Poaceae
Bromus

Bromus natalensis Stapf

First published in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 7: 732 (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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 50-120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7-15 cm long; 4-7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 10-25 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping; simple. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 35-55 mm long; 5-10 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Fertile
Spikelets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 35-55 mm long; 5-10 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; 13-15 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 17-20 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5-7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic; 15-18 mm long; chartaceous; mid-green, or purple; without keel; 7-9 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 6-15 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]

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]

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