Elymus lancangensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–55 cm long; 2 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes black; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; puberulous (below). Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 8–15 cm long; 2–4.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 10–15 cm long; 7–16 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes 8–15 mm long (-40 at base).

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 15–22(–24) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or hispidulous; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn reflexed; 10–24 mm long overall; limb scabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.8 mm long; green.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Lu & Wu 2009.

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