Bromus dolichocarpus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 100–180 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Leaf-sheath auricles erect; 5 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–7 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–38 cm long; 8–18 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle glabrous.

Panicle open; lanceolate; nodding; 25–36 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 30–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–14 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–15 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 18–20 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 3–5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates. Lemma surface pilose; hairy between veins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6–11 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 North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Meso-Am 1995.

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