Bromus latiglumis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 75–125 cm long; 8–15 -noded. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 6–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 12–20 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–8.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 10–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4–5 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2.8 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 North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr Indiana 1994.

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