GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Elymus tibeticus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 70–100 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.4 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 12–16 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect, or ascending; bilateral; 10–16 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–8.5 mm long; 0.8–1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0–6 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 8.5–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume hairs 2 mm long. Upper glume apex attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 10–17 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–2.3 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Triticeae. Bor 1994.

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