Bromus pseudodanthoniae

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous to pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 5–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–6 in number; simple; bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches straight, or flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblong; subterete; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets all alike, or with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest fertile lemma muticous. Fertile lemma oblong, or trullate; 12–15 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66–0.75 way up back of lemma; curved; spreading; 12–15 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising dorsally; shorter than principal. 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 and Caucasus.

NOTES Bromeae. Drobov 1999.

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