Leymus villosissimus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 25–60 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–8 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle hirsute above.

Racemes 1; single; linear; bilateral; 5–10 cm long; 12–17 mm wide. Rhachis pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 2–3 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–14 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–14 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1996.

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