Bromus grossus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 60–130 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–8 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; equilateral, or nodding; 14–18 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 18–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Lower glume awn subapical. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume awn subapical.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 10–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.1–0.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 8–12 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. 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; concavo-convex; 10–12 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central. Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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