Bromus sterilis L.

Annuals or biennials, 30–75 cm, loosely tufted or consisting of a solitary culm. Leaf-sheath densely short-pubescent; upper sheaths often ± glabrous. Ligule 1.5–2.5 mm, lacerate. Leaf-blade 6–25 cm × 2–6 mm, flaccid to firm, with short soft hairs; margins and acute tip finely scabrid. Culm (10)–25–55 cm, erect or geniculate-ascending, internodes glabrous or with minute fine hairs. Panicle 15–20 cm, nodding; branches usually >, or = spikelets, few, scabrid, widely spreading and drooping, tipped by 1–3 spikelets. Spikelets 3.5–6.5 cm, 4–14-flowered, oblong-lanceolate to later wedge-shaped and gaping, light green to purple-suffused. Glumes unequal, membranous, glabrous, but sparsely scabrid on keel and nerves above; lower 8–12.5 mm, 1–(3)-nerved, subulate, acuminate, upper 12.5–16 mm, 3-nerved, linear-lanceolate. Lemma 14–22 mm, 7-nerved, rounded, narrowly lanceolate, minutely scabrid, narrowed above to 2 acute to acuminate, hyaline, glabrous to finely scabrid lobes, 1–2 mm; awn 15–25–(30) mm. Palea c. ⅔ length of lemma, keels sparsely ciliate. Callus with minute hairs. Rachilla c. 2 mm, very sparsely minutely scabrid. Anthers 1–2 mm. Caryopsis 8.5–12 × 1–1.8 mm.

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