Elymus shawanensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 5–10 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes 6–9 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 5.5–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 7–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–7 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.