Bromus alopecuros is a species of brome grass known by the common name weedy brome.[2]
Bromus alopecuros | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Pooideae |
Genus: | Bromus |
Species: | B. alopecuros
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Binomial name | |
Bromus alopecuros | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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It is native to the Mediterranean basin, and it is known in other places, including Australia, South Africa, and California, as an introduced species and sometimes a weed. It is an annual grass producing stems up to 80 centimeters tall. The inflorescence is a dense packet of spikelets with tangling, curved awns.
Description
editBromus alopecuros grows 10–80 cm (3.9–31.5 in) tall, with smooth leaf sheathes and a ligule with hairs on its margins. Its leaves are 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) long and have hairy surfaces. Its inflorescence is an open panicle with stiff branches, growing 6–20 cm (2.4–7.9 in) long. Its spikelets are appressed, and are sessile when fertile. The fertile spikelets are lanceolate or ovate in shape, growing 2.4–4.5 cm (0.94–1.77 in) long. Its glumes are shorter than the spikelets, and both upper and lower glumes are lanceolate. Upper glumes are 11–20 mm (0.43–0.79 in) long and lower glumes are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long. [3]
Distribution and habitat
editThough Bromus alopecuros is native to the east Mediterranean and northern Africa, it is introduced in many subtropical areas, including California, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Bromus alopecuros". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Acedo, Carmen; Llamas, Félix (1999). The Genus Bromus L. (Poaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula. J. Cramer. pp. 92–95. ISBN 978-3-443-78004-3.
- ^ Clayton, W.D.; Vorontsova, M.; Harman, K.T.; Williamson, H. "Bromus alopecuros". RBG Kew: GrassBase. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 October 2024.