Bromus aristatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long; 2–4 -noded; with 0.33 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate. Primary panicle branches 2–7 -nate; bearing 1–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 12–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–9 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; light green; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–7 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 Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Bromeae. Zlaki 1997.

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