Leymus secalinus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 9–20 cm long; 2–6(–9) mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; (6–)8–17(–20) cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; with subequal internodes, or lowest internode elongated.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2–3(–4) in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 12–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 8–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–3 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: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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