Bromeae, India, New record, Pooideae, Srinagar, Western Himalayas.

The Western Himalayas encompass unique ecosystems that support numerous endemic and uncommon plant species (Rana et al., 2015). A prime example of this was observed during a field survey conducted across various parts of the Western Himalayas, especially within the temperate vegetation of the Kashmir Himalayas. In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, we documented a roadside annual grass population, 30cm to 50cm tall exhibiting distinct characteristics. These include a very lax panicle inflorescence with several to many laterally compressed florets and cuneiform spikelets. Further microscopic examination of the spikelets reveals a long and straight awn inserted in the bi-lobed lemma, which is rounded on the backside, has a fleshy appendage above the style insertion, and is pubescent at its apex, remaining persistent in the caryopsis. Consultation of relevant taxonomic literature (Bor, 1960; Gill & Carstairs 1988; Saarela et al., 2014) revealed that the grass was Bromus diandrus Roth.    

Bromus L. is recognized as a large and taxonomically troublesome grass genus, comprising around 160 species (WCVP, 2024) distributed across temperate regions worldwide (Saarela et al., 2014). It belongs to the tribe Bromeae (Bor, 1960; Chen et al., 2006; Clayton & Renvoize 1986) within the supertribe Triticodae (Soreng et al., 2017) of the subfamily Pooideae of the Poaceae family. Interestingly, out of the 22 taxa (Prasanna et al., 2020) of Bromus L. found in India, 16 taxa (Kellogg et al., 2020) were recorded in Jammu and Kashmir. This study marks first documented occurrence of this grass species in this region.

This study was based on a field survey conducted in various parts of the Kashmir Himalayan region. A comprehensive description of the species, accompanied by a colour photograph of plant specimens in their natural habitat (Fig. 1) and illustrations (Fig. 2), has been included to facilitate identification. The mapping of collection locations (Fig. 3) was carried out using “QGIS Version 3.36.2.” The herbarium specimen has been deposited in the herbarium of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (DD).

In our detailed examination of the distribution of B. diandrus Roth, we discovered that neither regional studies (Singh & Kachroo 1976; Sharma & Kachroo 1981; Dhar & Kachroo 1983; Kaul, 1986; Kapur & Sarin 1989; Navchoo & Kachroo 1995; Swami & Gupta 1998; Sharma & Jamwal, 1998;  Dar et al., 2014; Mehraj et al., 2016; Dar & Khuroo 2020; Dar et al., 2022) nor national floras (Prasanna et al., 2020; Kellogg et al., 2020) have documented its presence in Jammu and Kashmir. This reveals a gap in the recorded flora of the region and highlights the necessity for further research and documentation to accurately reflect the biodiversity in Jammu & Kashmir. This annual species is a widespread weed along the boundaries of agricultural fields.  

Taxonomic treatment: Bromus diandrus Roth, Bot. Abh. Beobacht. 44 (1787); Bor, Gras. Burma, Ceyl., Ind. & Pak. 454.1960; Karthikeyan et al. (1989) Florae. Indicae. Enumeratio. Mcot. 192. 

Annual, herb. Culms 25 – 100 cm, erect or decumbent, weakly pubescent below the inflorescences; 2-4 nodes, glabrous. Leaf Sheaths 1.5 – 2.75 mm, pubescent, margin ciliate; ligules 2.5 – 3.5 mm, glabrous, obtuse, erose-lacerate. Leaf-blades 2.5 – 15 cm × 0.2 – 0.75 cm, flat, pilose, margins pubescent. Panicles 7.5 – 25 cm × 2 – 15 cm, very lax and nodding, erect or spreading; branches 1 – 7.5 cm, erect to ascending, spreading, slender, scabrid, tipped by 1–3 spikelets. Spikelets 3 – 6.5 cm, 5–9-flowered, oblong-lanceolate, laterally compressed, at maturity with visible rachillas. Lower glume 10 – 25 mm, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, 1–3-nerved, scabrous, midnerves glabrous, apex acute, margin hyaline. Upper glume 15 – 30 mm, lanceolate, 3–5-veined, scabrous, apex acuminate, translucent between nerves, margin hyaline. Lemma 23 – 35 mm × 1.5 – 2 mm, linear-lanceolate, rounded over the backs, scabrous, 7-nerved, margins hyaline, apex 2-lobed, acuminate, keels scabrous, lobe 2.5 – 5 mm; awns 30 – 55 mm, straight, arising 2 – 6 mm below lemma apex. Palea 12 – 15 mm, back glabrous, keels sparsely ciliate.Stamens 2; anther 0.8 – 1 mm. Caryopsis 11 – 12.5 mm, elliptical-lanceolate.

Flowering & fruiting: April – July. 

Habitat: In open, sunny areas along the roadsides. 

Distribution: INDIA: Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (present report).

Etymology: Bromus is derived from the Greek word “bromos,” meaning “oats” or “bromos,” which is thought to refer to the plant's resemblance to oats plant. Diandrus comes from the Latin words “di,” meaning “two,” and “andrus,” meaning “male,” likely referring to the two stamens.

Specimens examined: India, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar District, Srinagar, Near the J&K ATM and along the path of Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom guest house (34°08′06″N, 74°50′14″E), 1618 m a.s.l., 15.03.2024, K. Saha & Ishfaq Hussain, K. Saha 212 (DD).

Fig. 1. Bromus diandrus Roth; A- Life form; B- Close-up of inflorescence.

Fig. 3. Place of collection of Bromus diandrus Roth in Jammu & Kashmir.

This study offers a comprehensive overview of the distribution of Bromus diandrus in the Western Himalayas, specifically in Jammu and Kashmir. Although B. diandrus is native to the Mediterranean region and South and Central Western Europe, it has been widely introduced and naturalized in numerous other countries (Malik & Mohammad, 2015).

B. diandrus has become naturalized in the hill states of northern India, at elevations ranging from 1400 m to 2100 m. In this region, it is utilized as fodder.  

Kuntal Saha, Manoj Chandran, Ranjana Negi, Saurabh Guleri and Akhtar H. Malik  (2024). Bromus diandrus Roth (Poaceae): New Addition to the Flora of Jammu & Kashmir from Kashmir Himalaya. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(6): 152-155.