Poaceae
Bromus

Bromus firmior (Nees) Stapf

First published in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 7: 733 (1900)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 50-150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 20-40 cm long; 4-8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; oblong, or ovate; 15-30 cm long. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15-45 mm long; 4-8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 15-45 mm long; 4-8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 8-16 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1-3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 10-20 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 10-20 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3-12 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion; pubescent on apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex; apex fleshy. Hilum linear.
Distribution
Africa: south.
Reference
Bromeae. Gr S Afr 1993.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0