Bromus nepalensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 45–55 cm long. Culm-internodes striate; smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; membranous; lacerate. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; nodding; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–5 -nate; 3–4 cm long; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scaberulous; glabrous. Panicle branches flexuous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 30–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–8.5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 11–13 mm long; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; straight; 7–12 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.8–1 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Bromeae. Melderis 2001.

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