Willdenowia 38
Willdenowia – Annals of the Botanic Garden and
Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem
ISSN 0511-9618
© 2008 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem.
Scholz, H.: Some comments on the genus Bromus (Poaceae) and three new species.
Willdenowia 38: 411-422.
doi:10.3372/wi.38.38203
Abstract
Number and geography of its species, which are mostly anecophytic, indicate a noncentred
origin and distribution of Bromus s.str. (Bromus sect. Bromus).
With some certainty a larger number of its known species have been evolving only since
the beginning of the Anthropocene, about 10 000 year ago, promoted by human impact.
Another three probably recently originated species are described as new to science,
B. parvispiculatus from the Balkan Peninsula, B. incisus with a chromosome
number of 2n = 4x = 28 from Central Europe and B. supernovus, a species of dubious
provenance only known from the type specimen of a plant cultivated in Australia.
The ancestry of B. hordeaceus, B. intermedius and B. secalinus is discussed.
Two new combinations, B. intermedius subsp. optimae and B. rechingeri
subsp. afghanicus, are validated and a conspectus indicating the known ploidy level
and distribution (endemic or indigenous to Europe) of the species of
Bromus s.str. is provided.
Additional key words:
Bromus sect. Bromus, brome grasses, taxonomy, evolution, ancestry problems, anecophytes
