Psathyrostachys kronenburgii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths grey, or light brown; glabrous. Culms 50–90 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades 20–40 cm long; 4.5–5 mm wide; mid-green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 5–7.5 cm long; 9–12 mm wide. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; pubescent on surface; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes cuneate; 3–6 mm long; falling with spikelet above.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 3 in the cluster; subequal.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7.5–10.5 mm long; 1.5–2.1 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; similar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume subulate; 7.5–10.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume hairs 0.8–1.5 mm long. Upper glume subulate; 7.5–10.5 mm long. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume hairs 0.8–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7.5–9.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2.2–4.5 mm long overall. Palea coriaceous. Rhachilla extension 3.5–5.5 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3.5–5.5 mm long; purple. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 4–4.5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, and China.

NOTES Triticeae. Baden 1992.

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