Bromus araucanus

HABIT Perennial. Culms robust; 70–120 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–5 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; lacerate. Leaf-blades 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 15–23 cm long. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 17–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 6–7 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 13–18 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4–5 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 South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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