Leymus interior

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 40–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3–6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 5–10 cm long. Rhachis pubescent on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2–3 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–12 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous; eciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Sib 1995.

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