Bromus aegyptiacus

HABIT Annual. Culms 25–50 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–8 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 3–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5–6 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous to pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight; 4–11 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Egypt 1997.

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