Bromus arenarius

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 20–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes clavate; 2 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–4 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 12–15 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous, or scabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight, or curved; 10–15 mm long overall. Palea 0.8 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. 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 Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. North America: northwest USA, northeast USA, and southwest USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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