Bromus borianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.6 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat; 10–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 30–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 4–4.5 mm long; scaberulous; glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 13–19 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–19 mm long; 0.66–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 20 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma surface asperulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight, or curved; 10–12 mm long overall. Palea 15 mm long. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 7 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Scholz 2005.

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