Bromus tytthanthus

HABIT Annual. Culms slender; 8–20 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; secund; 1–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 12–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.5–1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6–8 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.6 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 Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and China.

NOTES Bromeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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