Bromus villosissimus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms decumbent; 5–10 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 2–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–8 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 1–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 10–14 mm long; 4–6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent, or woolly. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 2–3 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: western South America.

NOTES Bromeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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