Leymus sibiricus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 25–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 5.5–13 cm long. Rhachis pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1–2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 9–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure, or two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 0–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Upper glume subulate; 0–5 mm long; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 4–5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1994.

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