Bromus pubescens

HABIT Perennial. Culms 65–150 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose; with reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long; erose; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades 12–32 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or drooping.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–8 mm long; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–10 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–8 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–5 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Pavlick 2004.

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