Elymus breviaristatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–12 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 12–15 cm long. Rhachis scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus base truncate.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 3–4 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex emarginate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. 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: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2007.

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