Leymus condensatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 150–350 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 12–30 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 15–50 cm long; simple, or secondarily branched. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2–5 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume subulate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–13 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA and Mexico.

NOTES Triticeae. Gr Baja Cal 1994.

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