Leymus akmolinensis

HABIT Perennial; pluricaespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 45–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 3–5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation prominent. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 6–10 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Rhachis pubescent on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Upper glume subulate; 7–10 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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