Elymus zejensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms slender; 45–65 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 10–18 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10.5–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–10.5 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 5–10 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east.

NOTES Triticeae. Vasc Pl Russ Far East 2006.

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