Bromus maritimus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 22–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–6 mm long; erose; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 6–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 9–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 30–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3–9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 12–14 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; distinctly keeled; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface pubescent, or pilose. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 2–7 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–4 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex fleshy.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Pavlick 2004.

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