Elymus shouliangiae

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 60–70 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; 4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 9–17 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 16–19 cm long. Rhachis flattened; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes 15–23 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 26–32 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–4 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 11–12 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; reflexed; 35–40 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4–5 mm long; brown. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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