Leymus arjinshanicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; linear; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 4–10 cm long; 6–8 mm wide. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 5–7(–15) mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 0.7–0.85 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins smooth, or scabrous. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2007.

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