Bromus nottowayanus

HABIT Perennial. Culms 70–120 cm long; 6–8 -noded. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose; with reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 6–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 12–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping. Panicle branches with insignificant pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–13 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 5–8 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 North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Man US Gr 1994.

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