Bromus mairei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 25–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1.5 mm long; lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 1–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; nodding; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; 5–10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–25 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 15–25 mm long; 6–10 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–10 mm long; 3 mm wide; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; spreading, or reflexed; 10–20 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2 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: China.

NOTES Bromeae. Hand-Maz 1995.

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