Derivation
Bromus L., Sp. Pl. 76 (1753); from the Greek bromos (oat), out of broma (food).

brevis- Latin for short. Culms short.

Published in
Symb. Bot. 2: 22 (1791).

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Basal leaf sheaths pubescent or pilose. Culms 15–75 cm tall. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate, 5–26 cm long, 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or pubescent.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle open or contracted, lanceolate or elliptic or oblong, 2–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets
Spikelets ascending, solitary. Pedicels 1.5–2.1 mm long. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 6–12 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate or elliptic or oblong or ovate, laterally compressed, compressed strongly, (9–)11–24 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Glumes
Glumes persistent. Lower glume lanceolate, 5.5–9 mm long, 90% length of upper glume, membranous, 1-keeled, 3–5(–7)-nerved. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, 6.6–9 mm long, 100% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1-keeled, 5–9-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate, laterally compressed, 8–14 mm long, chartaceous, 5–9-nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or pubescent. Lemma apex muticous or mucronate or 1-awned. Median (principal) awn subapical, 0.3–2 mm long overall. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Lodicules 2, membranous. Anthers 3, 0.4–1 mm long. Ovary with a fleshy appendage above style insertion, pubescent on apex. Grain with adherent pericarp, hairy at apex, apex fleshy. Hilum linear.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia, South America.

Australian Distribution:
New South Wales, Tasmania.

New South Wales: Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes. Tasmania: East Coast.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Bromeae

Notes
Introduced. N.S.W. and from two sites in southern Tas. Native of S. America. Flowers Aug.–Jan.