Leymus shanxiensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 70–110 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 8–15 cm long; 10–13 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; puberulous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes 6–20 mm long.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 18–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–1.5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–14 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3–5(–7) -veined. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with membranous margins; 1-keeled; 3–5(–7) -veined. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; 2-keeled. Palea keels ciliate. Palea apex emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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