Bromus anomalus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 45–75 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches drooping. Panicle branches flexuous; pubescent.

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; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. 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. Palea 9.5 mm long. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long; orange. 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: western Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr Texas 1993.

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