Leymus karelinii

HABIT Perennial; pluricaespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 10–20 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Rhachis pubescent on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2–3 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 persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 2–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume margins ciliate. Upper glume subulate; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume margins ciliate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, and China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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