Bromus kopetdagensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with reticulate dead sheaths. Culms geniculately ascending; 45–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 9–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2 -nate; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 25–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–15 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 15–18 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight, or curved; 3–5 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 Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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