Bromus tunicatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 30–45 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 6–10 cm long; 2.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–12 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 12–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 12–13 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 9–11 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0–2 mm long overall. 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 South America: southern South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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