Bromus lithobius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4 mm long. Leaf-blades 9–15 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 14–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–6 mm long overall. Palea gaping. 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 Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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