Bromus lanceolatus
Bromus lanceolatus Roth
Poaceae – Grass family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(ii,iii)].
Morphology and biology. Annual herb. Stems 30–80 cm high, erect, glabrous, or rarely puberulent near the inflorescence. Leaf-sheaths with long dense soft hairs. Leaves 5–30 cm long, 3–5 cm wide, acuminate, flat, glabrous or hairy. Inflorescence 5–15 cm long, erect, narrowly oblong-elliptic panicle. Spikelets 20–50 mm long, 6–10 mm wide, narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate, densely hairy with long hairs, with 10–15 florets. Glumes narrow, unequal, the lower 6–9 mm, the upper 7–12 mm long. Lemma 11–20 mm long, oblanceolate, deeply bifid at apex; awn 6–12 mm long, twisted at the base, arising 4–5 mm below the apex of the lemma; palea much shorter than lemma. Fruit narrowly elliptical caryopsis. Fl. V–VI, fr. VI–VII. Wind pollination. Reproduction by seed.
Habitats and populations. Dry grassy and rocky places, abandoned arable land, in open communities. Forms small populations.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – Silistar locality), Balkan Range (Western – Svoge town), Thracian Lowland; up to 800 m alt.
General distribution. S Europe, Mediterranean Area, N Africa, Middle Asia (Caucasus to Siberia), SW Asia (Asia Minor).
Threats. Habitat destruction and loss as a result of anthropogenic pressure (strong tourist activities, grazing by domestic animals, building industries).
Conservation measures taken. For protection of the habitats of the species the Biological Diversity Act requires establishment of protected areas in accordance with the regulations of the Protected Areas Act. One locality is in the Silistar Protected Site. Some populations are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Deposition of seeds to the National Seed Genebank in Bulgaria.
References. Kozhuharov et al. 1974; Stoeva 1984; Smith 1985; Koeva-Todorovska 1989.
Author: Ana Petrova
