Poaceae
Elymus

Elymus sikkimensis (Melderis) Melderis

First published in Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 1: 132 (1978)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Central & E. Himalaya. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Culms 70-80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2-0.3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 12-22 cm long; 2-5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above. Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 10-18 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 3-6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 13-18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 3-6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 13-18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5-7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6-8.5 mm long; 0.66-0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume hairs 2 mm long. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma oblong; 9-10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 15-22 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back; hairy above. Palea apex muticous, or with excurrent keel veins. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Asia-tropical: India.
Reference
Triticeae. Bor 1994.
[GB]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0