Cover image of: Carmen Acedo; Félix Llamas - The Genus Bromus L. (Poaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Carmen Acedo; Félix Llamas:

The Genus Bromus L. (Poaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

1999. 293 pages, 80 figures, 3 tables, 620 g
Language: English

(Phanerogamarum Monographiae, Volume 22)

ISBN 978-3-443-78004-3, paperback, price: 87.00 €

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Keywords

botany • Phanerogamae • Bromus L. • Poaceae • Iberian Peninsula

Contents

Text from intro and first chapters top ↑

This publication presents a comprehensive treatment of the genus Bromus L. and its occurrences on the Iberian Peninsula. Previously, Bromus had only been given limited attention in a number of floras (e.g. Willkomm, 1861; Losa Espana, 1961). A complete review of literature on the subject is used as the base of this review of Bromus, and nearly 4000 specimens of Bromus were studied and compared to other Bromus specimens from outside the Iberian Penisula.
All taxons encountered are listed with their correct names according to ICBN, author and bibliograhic reference of the protologue, synonyms where applicable and description of locotype. The taxonomic characteristics of the individual are listed documented. Morphological data include the anatomical description of leaves, culms and epidermis and pollen (where studied).
The similarities and differences of related taxa are shown, describing the variability, number of chromosomes, ecological and phytosociological behaviour. The data are complemented by maps showing the distribution of Bromus-taxa on the Iberian Peninsula.
A list of sampling locations of the specimens is provided, documenting the location (UTM coordinates), country, gathering date, ecology, collector and the sheet number of the respective herbarium.

Rev.: Acta Botanica Hungarica 42 (1-4), 1999/2000 top ↑

In Chapter I the authors of the taxonomy monograph give a summary of the historical evolution of the concept of the genus Bromus. The genus and the first 11 species were described by Linnaeus, so he is considered to be the "godfather" of the genus as well, although Plinius had already used the same Latin form of the name (which has Greek origin and means 'food'/ Only two years after the Species Plantarum had been issued, Linaeus was again, who described the next thee new species and iust from the territory of Hispania. These have been followed by numerous ones during the centuries, and nowadays Rout 150 species belongs to the genus. In this summary all of the authors are mentioned in chronological order who studied the genus, described new species, set up new genus for some taxa or listed others back to the genus Bromus. The authors completed a similar review about the "vicissitudes" of the species found in the Nigerian Peninsula. The row of the newly described taxa is closed by Ho species separated by Acedo and Llamas recently.

For the taxonomy revision the authors have examined about 4,000 specimens, most of them borrowed Tom the most important herbaria (about 40) of the Iherian Peninsula and a minor part from areas outside the Rudy area. Field observations were also made on almost all the taxa. As much morphological data as possible mere gathered from each specimen examined. The Statical studies were carried out on the leaves and calms (transverse section) of live material collected by the authors. The epidermis, silica and cork cells, stomata were Resewed by means of SEM, and chromosome studies were carded out on root apices. AH these are completed by palinological studies and phonological observations (Chapter 8, Material and Methods).

In Chapter III the results obtained are commented, discussed and compared with the authors' who carried out similar studies describing in detail me taxonomic character of the genus and producing with them a key for identification of the Nigerian species. In some cases the authors criticise the previous results demonstrating that certain Padres are inadequate to use for identification or can be used restricted only to some groups of taxa.

It follows by the description of the 23 as species (belonging to 4 subgenera) occurring in the Iberia Peninsula. (14 of the taxa occur in Hungary as well) the correct name, the original full description, the indication of the type locality, the data of me type, the list of the previously polished illustrations are given for each taxon. Based on the studied material, a full morphological and anatomical description are given, followed by the indication of the similarities and differences with me more related taxa, the variability within the species, the ecological and phytosociological behaviour, the distribution (with map), the list of species examined and anally the list of bibhographical reports.

In this excellent taxonomic monograph only the illstrations leave a lot to be desired. The drawings about the spikelets, glumes, lemma, palea and caryopsis could have been more detailed. But what is missing most are the drawings about the entire plants (there is only one about a new taxon. The bibliography occupies 23 pages (Chapter VI).

At last, let me cite the thoughts worth keeping in mind of the famous anatomist, Metcalf, from the first page of the monograph chosen by the authors as a motto: "... As we read the open book of nature we should remember that, as taxonomist, it is our duty to discover and interpret the natural systematic order that actually exists and the course that evolution has already taken and is still following. Our task is to reveal and not to invent".

We can recommend the monograph to everyone who dead with taxonomy of Foaceae and we also suggest to have a look at it when compiling the revised edition of the manual of the Hungarian Flora (considering that 14 species are included in the book of the 20 Bromus taxa occurring in Hungary).

Gy. Szollát

Acta Botanica Hungarica 42 (1-4), 1999/2000

Contents top ↑

Index
I. INTRODUCTION 1
Origin of the name, history and nomenclatural type of Bromus 1

Taxa described within the genus Bromus L. 2
Generic segregates 3
Species and other taxa 4
Bromus L. in the Iberian Peninsula 17
II. MATERIAL AND METHODS 21
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 25

The characters and their variation 25

Morphologic characters 25

Anatomical characters 40

Palynological characters 52

Phenology 54

Taxonomy 56

Bromus L. in the Poaceae 56

Infrageneric classification. Adopted systematics 56

Key to species of Bromus in Iberian Peninsula 57

Descriptions 59

Bromus L. 59

Bromus L. subgen. Bromus 60

1. Bromus arvensis 61

2. Bromus racemosus 69
3. Bromus secalinus 78

4. Bromus squarrosus 82

5. Bromus alopecuros 92

6. Bromus intermedius 96

7. Bromus lanceolatus 103

8. Bromus scoparius 114

9. Bromus cabrerensis 119

1O. Bromus hordeaceus 123

11. Bromus lepidus 152

12. Bromus pseudothominii 155

13. Bromus nervosus 159

Bromus L. subgen. Stenobromus 164

14. Bromus diandrus 165

15. Bromus sterilis 182
16. Bromus tectorum 196

17. Bromus fasciculatus 207
18. Bromus matritensis 212

l9. Bromus rubens 223

Bromus L. subgen. Festucoides 234

20. Bromus erectus 234

21. Bromus inermis 245

22. Bromus ramosus 249

Bromus L. subgen. Ceratochloa 256

23. Bromus catharticus 257
VI. LITERATURE 263

VII. INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES 287