Bromus lanatipes

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 40–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths woolly. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–11 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 2–4 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–4 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Bromeae. Pavlick 2004.

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