Bromus intermedius

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–75 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–11 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2–6 -nate; 1–4 cm long. Panicle branches tangled.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; flexuous; 1 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 9–20 mm long; 3–6 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; 0.75–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface hirsute. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–7.5 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface hirsute. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–9 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface hirsute. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.75 way up back of lemma; curved; reflexed; flat below; 5–11.5 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1–2 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 Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia and China.

NOTES Bromeae. Acedo 1996.

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