Bromus gunckelii

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 8–40 cm long; 1–4 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 2–15 cm long; 1–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or oblong; 6–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.2–2.5 mm long; glabrous. Floret callus pubescent; hairy on the margins; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4.1–4.6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 5.2–6 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous to pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.5–1 mm long; incised 0.1 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; geniculate; with twisted column. Palea lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Anthers 3; 1 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; without sulcus; 6 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Mathei 2002.

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