Bromus macrocladus

HABIT Annual. Culms 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong, or pyramidal; effuse; 15–30 cm long; 12–25 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; laterally compressed; 18–36 mm long; 5–9 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. 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; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; widest at 0.5 of its length from base; 9–13 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; curved; spreading; (2–)8–13 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 3–4 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 Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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