Leymus nikitinii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–25 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant. Rhachis internodes 15–20 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2–3 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 14–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Upper glume subulate; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–14 mm long; coriaceous; light green; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous; glabrous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. 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. Zlaki 1997.

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