Leymus paboanus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms erect; 20–50 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 7–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 8–15 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; with subequal internodes, or lowest internode elongated.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 7–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Upper glume subulate; 7–9 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 -veined.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; 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 Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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