Bromus moesiacus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 20–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; equilateral; 8 cm long; 4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 4–5 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 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; 4–5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn subapical; 1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; purple; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6–7 mm long overall. 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 Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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