Leymus pishanicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 50–80 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1–2 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 6–18 cm long; 2–4.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 8–13 cm long. Rhachis scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins, or ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 8–12 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 12–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. Palea 9 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Palea apex emarginate; pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Lu & Wu 1996.

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