Bromus speciosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 8–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1 length of fertile spikelet; smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 25–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 10–15 mm long; chartaceous; purple; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–6 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 5–7 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 Africa: south.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr S Afr 1993.

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