Leymus kopetdaghensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle scaberulous above.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–20 cm long; 7 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 17–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Upper glume subulate; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy above. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea 2 -veined. 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: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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