Bromus natalensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 50–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping; simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 35–55 mm long; 5–10 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 13–15 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 17–20 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 15–18 mm long; chartaceous; mid-green, or purple; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6–15 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: south.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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