Bromus andringitrensis

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 80–90 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; striately veined; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; equilateral, or nodding; 22–25 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches capillary; terete; smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–2.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 9–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 40–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2.5–3.5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 11 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–153 mm long; herbaceous; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein scaberulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6–8 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4.5 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: western Indian ocean.

NOTES Bromeae. Camus 2007.

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