Bromus auleticus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 40–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 30–65 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; oblong; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 20–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–13 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 1–6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 3–8 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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