Bromus sterilis* Linn. Sp. Pl. 77 (1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Bromeae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: LT: Loefling 82, Spain (LINN-93.19). LT designated by Smith, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 42:500 (1985). According to Veldkamp, Blumea 35: 497 (1991) this is a mistake as the specimen represents Bromus diandrus Roth..
CT: C.E. Hubbard 9045, 15 Jun 1932, England: Surrey: Tothill, near Headley, scattered plants in derelict hay-field on heavy soil overlying chalk (E; INT: K). CT proposed by Sales, Taxon 41: 584 (1992).
Key references (books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (662), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (177), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (87).
Illustrations: [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (177).
Habit. Annual. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 12–100 cm tall, 3–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–4 mm long, erose. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long, 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, effuse, 3–25 cm long.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets (4–10), comprising 4–10 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 20–35 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar. Lower glume linear, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 7.5–20 mm long, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3(–5) -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 8–25 mm long, without keel or keeled, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn subapical or dorsal, 15–40 mm long overall. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia: Dale. New South Wales: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes. Victoria: East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Midlands, Riverina. Tasmania: Midlands, East Coast.
Notes. Introduced. Flowers Nov.-Jan. Fruits Dec.-Jan.
