Elymus thoroldianus

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 15–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 4–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; oblong, or ovate; bilateral; 1–2.5 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–3 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Oliver 1995.

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