Rye Brome - Bromus secalinus
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Species Description
Historically frequent, and then rare and now increasing throughout much of England, but much rarer elsewhere. Habitat includes: field margins, roadsides, wasteland etc.
Stace 4:
Bromus secalinus L. - Rye Brome.
Culms erect, to 1.2m; panicle rather diffuse to more or less compact, erect or drooping to 1 side at maturity, with some branches longer than spikelets; lemmas 6.5-9(10)mm, glabrous or (usually) hairy, with straight awn 0-8mm; (2n=28). Archaeophyte-colonist; weed of cereals; marginal and waste ground, for long decreasing and now only casual, but recently increasing as grass-seed contaminant; scattered throughout most of British Isles except North & West Scotland; formerly frequent in Central & South England; Europe.
Key:
- Caryopsis with inrolled margins; lemma with margins wrapped around caryopsis when mature, hence lemma margins not overlapping next higher lemma, but rhachilla more or less revealed between florets; rhachilla disarticulating tardidly
- Spikelets 12-20mm, glabrous or hairy; lemmas 6.5-9(10)mm; palea equalling lemma caryopsis 6-9mm; sheaths usually glabrous or sparsely hairy