Leymus spiniformis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 35–60 cm long; 1.2–2.5 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 6–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; linear; bilateral; 8–15 cm long; 6–9 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes 4–15 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 9–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 8–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume inner surface scabrous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 8–16 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume margins smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–15 mm long; chartaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall (9–14mm on lowest lemma). Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4–5 mm long; yellow. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Cai & Su 2009.

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