Bromus chrysopogon

HABIT Annual. Culms 20–25 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2.5–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; obovate; dense; 4–5 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 20–25 mm long; 4–5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–11.5 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 8–14 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.25–0.5 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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