Leymus paucispiculus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 55–90 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 3–12 cm long; 1.5–3.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Rhachis internodes 6–10 mm long.

Spikelets solitary and in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets. Spikelets laterally compressed; 11–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity. Rhachilla internodes 6–10 mm long; pubescent; hairy above.

GLUMES Glumes similar. Lower glume subulate, or linear; 9–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume margins eciliate (scabrous). Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume subulate, or linear; 9–11 mm long; 0.85 length of adjacent fertile lemma; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or obscure. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume margins scabrous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike. Fertile lemma present; lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex mucronate. Principal lemma awn 1–1.5 mm long overall. Palea present; 0.85–0.9 length of lemma. Palea keels spinulose. Palea apex emarginate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.4–4.1 mm long; yellow. Ovary pubescent on apex (tomentose).

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Lian-bing 2014.

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