Elymus sosnowskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 35–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 6–12 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 12–15 cm long; bearing 9–16 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma apex attenuate; mucronate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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