Bromus lanatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping. Panicle branches flexuous; puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels villous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–4 mm long overall. Palea 6.5–7.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. 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 South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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