Bromus bikfayensis

HABIT Perennial. Culms 130–150 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with reflexed hairs; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–35 cm long; 6–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 20–30 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2 -nate; 5–6 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 50–55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 4–5 mm long; eventually visible between lemmas; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 12–13 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–15 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 16–18 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 7–8 mm long overall. Palea 12–13 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 7–8 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 14–16 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Camus 1995.

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