Leymus angustus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–100 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–7 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 10–20 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Rhachis pubescent on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes filiform; 10–17 mm long.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–15 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 11–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.2–2.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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