Bromus paulsenii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 17–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–5 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 Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, and China.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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