Bromus polyanthus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; robust; 90–125 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 6–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 12–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 25–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.8 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth to scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth to scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile florets imbricate to tip. Fertile lemma oblong; laterally compressed; 8–15 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; distinctly keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma margins scabrous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 4–6 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. 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. North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr Texas 1997.

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