Bromus parodii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms 40–50 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–40 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2–5 -nate; 6–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 27–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2.5 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–13 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–15 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 12–15 mm long; 2–2.8 mm wide; chartaceous; keeled; 9 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 1–3 mm long overall. Palea 0.75 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above; with 0.66 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.9 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; without sulcus; 6–8 mm long; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Covas & Itria 1995.

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