Leymus cappadocicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 25–50 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 2–7 cm long. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume subulate; 8–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume. Upper glume subulate; 8–10 mm long; 1.1–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran.

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