Bromus gracillimus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 12–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–12 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–8 cm long; 1–4 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; 3.5–6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–4.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 12–19 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 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 Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Iran.

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