Bromus pumpellianus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 20–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 3–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 1.5–3 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–4 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

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

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, China, and Mongolia. North America: Subarctic, northwest USA, north-central USA, and northeast USA.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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