Bromus brachyantherus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths withering. Culms 40–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–8 mm wide; dark green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 6–12 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1–1.8 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 7.5 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Entre Rios 1995.

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