Bromus racemosus L.

Annuals or biennials, 12–50 cm, loosely tufted or consisting of a solitary culm. Leaf-sheath villous, with soft spreading hairs; upper sheaths with shorter, ± appressed hairs. Ligule 0.5–1 mm, denticulate. Leaf-blade 3–10 cm × 1.5–2.5 mm, pubescent; margins scabrid near acute tip. Culm 8–30 cm, erect, internodes pubescent. Panicle 4–6.5 cm, erect to later sometimes nodding, usually ± contracted; branches scabrid, some > spikelets. Spikelets 1.5–2 cm, 5–10-flowered, ovate- to elliptic-lanceolate, pale green. Glumes unequal, acute, firmly membranous to chartaceous, smooth, but scabrid on keel; lower 5–6.5 mm, 3–(5)-nerved, oblong-lanceolate, upper 6–8 mm, 5–7-nerved, ovate to elliptic. Lemma 7.5–9 mm, rather obscurely 7–9-nerved, rounded, firmly chartaceous, elliptic to ± obovate, very minutely scabrid especially in upper ½; margins flat, overlapping; apex very slightly emarginate; awn from just below apex, straight, 6–8 mm. Palea slightly < lemma, keels sparsely long-ciliate, flanks glabrous. Callus glabrous. Rachilla c. 1 mm, minutely scabrid. Anthers 1–1.5–(2) mm. Caryopsis not seen.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]