Elymus nipponicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 60–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–0.7 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; ascending; arcuate; bilateral; 10–18 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous, or sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface hispidulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: eastern Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Koyama 1994.

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