Bromus moellendorffianus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; slender; 20–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 2–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–23 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 11 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 7–9 mm long overall. 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 Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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