Bromus nervosus

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Culm-internodes striate. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 6–11 cm long; pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades 8–17 cm long; 2.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; equilateral; 6–11 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing 1–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; (10–)15–20 mm long; 7–8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes straight; 1.5 mm long; obscured by lemmas; pilose. Floret callus evident.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; parallel to lemmas. Lower glume linear; 8–9 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; herbaceous; of similar consistency on margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9.5–10.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 0.5 length of spikelet; herbaceous; with undifferentiated margins; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma trullate; widest at 0.5 of its length from base; 11–13 mm long; 2.5–3 mm wide; herbaceous; of similar consistency above; of similar consistency on margins; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface pilose; hairy above. Lemma margins pilose; hairy all along. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 2–6.5 mm long overall; 0.2–0.5 length of lemma; limb scaberulous. Palea lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliate; adorned sparsely. Palea apex erose; emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped; 3–4 in number.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; ovate; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2; white. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; concealed by floret; 7–8 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Bromeae. Acedo 1996.

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