Leymus pubens

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with soft dead sheaths, or fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 30–90 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.3–2(–2.5) mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 5–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7–20 cm long. Rhachis puberulous on surface (above); ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 5–11 mm long.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–3 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.5–9.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3(–4) mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 7.5–11 mm long; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–3(–4) mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate (0.5–2 mm). Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4 mm long; yellow. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Xiao 2013.

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