Bromus cabrerensis

HABIT Annual; culms solitary. Culms erect; 85–120 cm long; 5–8 -noded. Leaf-sheaths 9–15 cm long; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; entire; acute. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 4.5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; elliptic; equilateral; 10–20 cm long; 2–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing 1–6(–25) fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 8–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; subterete; 12–13 mm long; 3–3.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes curved; 0.75–1 mm long; obscured by lemmas; pilose; hairy all along but hairs longer above; with 0.2 mm long hairs. Floret callus evident; disarticulating obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume ovate; 5.5–7 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–7 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; with scarious margins; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–7.5 mm long; 4–4.5 mm wide; herbaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma hairs 0.1–0.3 mm long. Lemma apex erose and dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 5–8 mm long overall; 0.6–1.2 length of lemma; limb scaberulous. Palea oblong; 6–7 mm long; 0.9–1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate and ciliate. Palea apex erose; emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2; white. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; concealed by floret; 6–7 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Bromeae. Acedo 1996.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Some panicle branches longer than spikelets.

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