Leymus divaricatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–7 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ungrooved; scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above; glabrous.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 6–10 cm long; 15 mm wide. Rhachis ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets appressed; solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster. Pedicels 3–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous, or sparsely hairy; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume inner surface pubescent. Upper glume linear; 6–8 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume inner surface pubescent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–3 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1996.

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