Poaceae
Elymus

Elymus magnicaespes D.F.Cui

First published in Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 10(3): 25 (1990)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Xinjiang. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 50-70 cm long; 2 mm diam.; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or involute; 1.5-2.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 8-12 cm long; bearing 7-12 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis scabrous on surface; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes 10 mm long. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 4-6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 11-18 mm long; 2-3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus base truncate. Rhachilla internodes 1-1.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus glabrous.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 4-6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 11-18 mm long; 2-3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus base truncate. Rhachilla internodes 1-1.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3-6 mm long; 0.5-0.66 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 4-5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6-9 mm long; 0.6-0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; evenly spaced. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0-10 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 3 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.
Distribution
Asia-temperate: China.
Reference
Triticeae. Cui 1996.
[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: 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

  • 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