Elymus cacuminus

Description

HABIT Perennial;caespitose.Culms erect,or geniculately ascending;25–57 cm long;2–4 -noded.Leaf-sheaths pilose.Leaf-sheath auricles falcate.Ligule an eciliate membrane;0.5 mm long.Leaf-blades involute;2–15 cm long;1–6 mm wide;light green,or purple.Leaf-blade surface scabrous;rough abaxially;pubescent;hairy adaxially.INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.Racemes 1;single;drooping;bilateral;4–13 cm long;8–12 mm wide.Rhachis flattened;scabrous on surface;scabrous on margins.Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis;contiguous,or lax.Spikelets appressed;solitary.Fertile spikelets sessile.FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets;with diminished florets at the apex.Spikelets elliptic to oblong;laterally compressed;25–40 mm long;2.5–4.5 mm wide;breaking up at maturity;disarticulating below each fertile floret.Floret callus pubescent.GLUMES Glumes persistent;similar.Lower glume lanceolate;2–6 mm long;0.7–0.8 length of upper glume;coriaceous;much thinner on margins;without keels;1–5 -veined.Lower glume lateral veins absent,or distinct.Lower glume surface scabrous;rough on veins.Lower glume apex acuminate;mucronate.Upper glume lanceolate;2.5–9 mm long;0.3–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma;coriaceous;with membranous margins;without keels;3–7 -veined.Upper glume surface scabrous;rough below.Upper glume apex acuminate;mucronate.FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate,or elliptic;8–11 mm long;1.2–2 mm wide;coriaceous;5 -veined.Lemma surface scabrous;glabrous,or pubescent.Lemma apex acuminate;awned;1 -awned.Principal lemma awn curved;15–30 mm long overall.Palea 0.9 length of lemma;2 -veined.Palea keels ciliate.Palea surface glabrous,or puberulous;hairy on back.Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.FLOWER Anthers 3;1.3–2 mm long;yellow,or purple.