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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 viridulus
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–100 cm long; 1 mm diam.; 4 -noded; with 0.66–0.75 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode, or subequal to internodes; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long; scarious; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–20 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes 1; single; erect, or drooping; bilateral; 7.5–9.5 cm long. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes 6–13 mm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 14–28 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 4–6 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; coriaceous; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 4–6 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 10 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins scaberulous (above). Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 2–6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface puberulous. Palea apex emarginate, or truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; 2 mm long; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3; 4 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; hairy at apex; apex unappendaged. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.
NOTES Triticeae. Chen 2001.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
