Bromus alopecuros* Poir. Voy.
Barb. 2: 100 (1789).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Bromeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Barbaria, El Kala,.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (95 as Serrafalcus alopecuros), [2002] D.Sharp &
B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (253), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales
(174), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(82).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (254, Fig. 195), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(174).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 10–80 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths hairy.
Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–22 cm long, 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or elliptic or oblong, 2–20
cm long, 1–3 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least
2 fertile florets (6–11), comprising 6–11 fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, lanceolate or oblong or ovate, laterally compressed, 20–45
mm long.
Glumes. Lower
glume lanceolate, membranous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume
lanceolate, 8–20 mm long, membranous, without keels or keeled, 5–9 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 9–18 mm long, without keel, 7–9 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous
or indumented. Lemma apex dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal,
6–20 mm long overall. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, and North
America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Dale, Avon. South Australia: Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern
Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Cook, Maranoa. New
South Wales: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands,
North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes,
South-Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands,
Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Volcanic Plain,
Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: East Coast.
Notes.
Introduced. N.S.W. Vic., S.A. and W.A. Native of the Mediterranean. An
occasional weed of crops, pastures and roadsides. Flowers Oct.-Dec. Fruits
Oct.-Jan.
