Bromus pellitus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 2–3 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense; 3–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches sparsely divided. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8 mm long; 0.75–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4 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 South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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