Poaceae

P. fragilis (Boiss.) Nevski in Fl. URSS 2:716 (1934). Syn: Hordeum fragile Boiss., Diagn. ser. 1(7): 128 (1846)! Elymus fragilis (Boiss.) Griseb. apud Ledeb., Fl. Ross. 4:330 (1852)! Ic: Fl. Iraq 9: t. 89 (1968).
Stems to 60 cm, covered with remains of old, fibrous leaf sheaths at base. Leaf blades 1-2 mm broad, convolute. Spike 6-9 cm, pale yellow. Spikelets with 2 florets, lower hermaphrodite and upper rudimentary or sterile. Glumes 3.5-5.5 cm, spreading. Lemma of lower floret 10-13 mm, usually scabrid or hirsute at apex, with curved awn 4-5.5 cm. Fl. 6-9. Stony slopes in steppe, rocky gullies, usually on calcareous soil, 1500-3100 m.
Type: [S. Iran] in monte Sabst-Buschom prope Schiraz, Kotschy 375 (holo. G.'iso.W!).
E. Anatolia. A7 Gümüşane: Argyri Da. (nr Ilya Da.), Sint. 1894:5947!* A8 Gümüşane: Erzurum to Bayburt, topofpass, 1500 m, Stn.&Hend. 6166!* B6 Sivas: 17 km S. of Kangal, 1500 m, Sorger 76-17-27! B7 Erzincan: Keşiş Da. above Cimin, 1900-2100 m, D. 31769!* Tunceli: Munzur Da. N.W. of Ovacik (Bekirdaş Da.), 1500-2900 m, Sorger &Buchner 82-127-40! B8 Bitlis: Kambos Da., 1800 m, McNeill 637! B9 Bitlis/Van: mt. 10 km S.E. of Pelli, 2550 m, D. 22521! Van: Ispiriz Da., 2600 m, D. 23630! C9 Hakkari: Elki-yayla Da., above pass between Marunis and Beytüşşebap, CENTO road, 2400-2550 m, D. 45297! CIO Hakkari: Mor Da., 3100 m, Watson 3600!
Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan. Ir.-Tur. element. The specimens marked with an asterisk have pilose glumes and lemmas. The nature of the indumentum is variable in this species; as the pilose variants intergrade into typical P. fragilis, possessing scabrid glumes and nearly glabrous lemmas, they cannot be taxon-omicaliy separated from the latter.