Bromus psammophilus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 25–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; densely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7 cm long; 6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; bearing 1–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches straight, or flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; 5–6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma trullate; widest at 0.5–0.66 of its length from base; 5.5–6 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex entire; emarginate, or obtuse; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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