Bromus madritensis* Linn. Cent.
Pl. 1 :5 (1755).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Bromeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Loefling s.n., Spain: manifesto prope
Madritum (LINN-93.55). LT (as NT) designated by P.M. Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard.
Edinb. 43: 500 (1985).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (99), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (259), [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of
the South West (408), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (175), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (87).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (259, Fig. 201), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(175), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(91, Fig.13).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 10–60 cm tall, 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths
hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1.5–4 mm long, lacerate. Leaf-blades 3–20
cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 2.5–15 cm long, 1.5–6 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (4–13), comprising 4–13 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, obovate or cuneate, laterally compressed, 20–45 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar. Lower glume linear, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 8–15 mm long, chartaceous, without keels or keeled, 1-keeled,
3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 12–19 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate,
awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn subapical or dorsal, 10–22 mm long
overall. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, Pacific, North
America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Avon. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Eyre
Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo
Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Moreton. New South Wales:
North Coast, Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands,
North-Western Slopes, North Far Western Plains. Victoria: East
Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee,
Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania:
Midlands.
Notes.
Introduced. Native of the Mediterranean, widely naturalized in temperate
countries. Typically on sandy soil, or dry, rocky areas. Flowers Aug.-Dec.