Bromus frondosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 80–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–5 mm wide; light green. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 22–27 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; membranous; without keels; 2–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 11 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 1–4 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 North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Man US Gr 1997.

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