Bromus cebadilla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–120 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 12–30 cm long; 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 20–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–11 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–13 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 8–12 mm long overall. 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 Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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