Leymus ramosus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 20–45 cm long. Lateral branches fastigiate; arising from lower culm. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 2–6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 4–8 cm long. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes oblong; 6–10 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10–15(–17) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 5–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Upper glume subulate; 5–9 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 -veined.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or 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, and China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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