Bromus texensis

HABIT Annual; culms solitary. Culms 40–75 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; indistinct the panicle almost racemose, or simple.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–12 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6–10 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. 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 North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr Texas 1993.

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