Bromus briziformis

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 4–7 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; equilateral, or nodding; 8–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–6 cm long; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; 3.5–6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 5–6 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 7–9 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. 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 Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia. North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Iran.

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