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• Family: Poaceae (Grass) ^{(USDA Plants)}
• Other Names: Brome Grasses, Cheat Grasses, Chess Grasses. ^(Wikipedia)

Local Species

1. Bromus ciliatus - fringed brome ^[E-flora]
2. Bromus hordeaceus - soft brome ^[E-flora]
3. Bromus inermis - smooth brome ^[E-flora]
4. Bromus pacificus - Pacific brome ^[E-flora]
5. Bromus racemosus - smooth brome ^[E-flora]
6. Bromus secalinus - rye brome ^[E-flora]
7. Bromus sitchensis - Alaska brome ^[E-flora]
8. Bromus squarrosus - corn brome ^[E-flora]
9. Bromus sterilis - barren brome ^[E-flora]
10. Bromus tectorum - cheatgrass ^[E-flora]
11. Bromus vulgaris - Columbia brome ^[E-flora]

General: A large genus of annual or perennial grasses. ^(Wikipedia)
Lifecycle: Can be annual or perennial, depending on the species. Many are cool-season grasses. ^(KSRE)
Flowers: Inflorescence is a panicle, which can be open and drooping or dense and erect. Spikelets are multi-flowered with awns that are typically subapical (inserted below the tip of the lemma). ^(Wikipedia)
Fruits: A caryopsis, typical of the grass family. ^(Wikipedia)
Leaves: Leaf sheaths are closed for most of their length, which is a key identifying feature. Blades are flat and can be hairy or smooth. ^(Wikipedia)
Habitat: Found in a wide range of habitats globally, including grasslands, open woods, roadsides, and disturbed areas. ^{(USDA FEIS)}
Range: Native primarily to temperate regions of Eurasia, with many species now naturalized or invasive worldwide. ^{(Wikipedia, USDA FEIS)}
Status: Many species, like Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass), are considered highly invasive and noxious weeds in North America and other regions. ^{(Invasive.org)}
Ecological Indicator: The dominance of invasive Bromus species often indicates a disturbed ecosystem. They can outcompete native plants, alter fire regimes, and reduce biodiversity. ^{(ResearchGate)}
Possible Lookalikes: Identification can be difficult. Some Bromus species may be confused with other grasses like fescues (Festuca spp.) or ryegrasses (Lolium spp.). Key characteristics are the closed leaf sheath and the structure of the spikelet and awns. ^{(UC IPM)}

Hazards

• Invasiveness: Many species are aggressive invaders that displace native flora and can dominate ecosystems. ^{(ResearchGate)}
• Fire Hazard: Annual bromes like cheatgrass (B. tectorum) dry out early in the season, creating a continuous fuel bed that dramatically increases the frequency and intensity of wildfires. ^(GOERT)
• Mechanical Injury to Animals: The sharp, stiff awns of some species, like ripgut brome (B. diandrus), can cause injury to livestock and wildlife by embedding in eyes, mouths, and hides. ^{(UC IPM)}

Food Uses

• Forage: Several perennial species, such as smooth brome (Bromus inermis), are cultivated as a palatable and nutritious pasture and hay crop for livestock. ^{(KSRE, Trawin Seeds)}
• Human Consumption: The seeds of some species, like California brome (Bromus carinatus), were traditionally ground into flour by Native Americans to make bread and other foods. ^{(USDA Plants)}

Other Uses

• Erosion Control: Due to their rapid establishment and extensive root systems, certain Bromus species are used for revegetation and erosion control on disturbed sites like roadsides and mine spoils. ^{(USDA Plants)}
• Wildlife Habitat: Brome grasses provide cover for small mammals and birds, and their seeds are a food source for birds and rodents. ^{(USDA Plants)}

Medicinal Uses

• Traditional Use: Hairy Brome (Bromus ramosus) is used in Bach flower remedies for conditions of "Uncertainty", "Despondency" and "Dissatisfaction". ^{(Natural Medicinal Herbs)}
• Modern Status: There is limited scientific research into the medicinal properties of the Bromus genus. Most focus has been on their ecological and agricultural impacts.

Phytochemistry & Allelopathy

Phytochemical screening of some species, like Bromus pectinatus, has shown the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenols. These compounds may contribute to observed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. ^{(ResearchGate Phytochem)}

Allelopathy: Some Bromus species exhibit allelopathic properties, releasing chemicals that inhibit the germination and growth of other plants. This is a factor in their ability to create monocultures. For example, extracts of downy brome can inhibit the germination of wheat. ^{(ResearchGate Allelopathy)}

Management and Control

For invasive species, control is the primary goal. Methods include prescribed burning, targeted grazing, mowing, and herbicide application. For forage species, cultivation is practiced.

• Forage Cultivation: Smooth brome (B. inermis) is planted for forage. It prefers deep, fertile soils and can be seeded in late summer or early spring. Soil testing for pH and nutrients is crucial for successful establishment. ^(KSRE)
• Invasive Control: Management of invasive bromes like B. tectorum is complex and often requires an integrated approach. Late summer to fall burning can be effective as seeds are sensitive to heat. Preventing soil disturbance is key to limiting their spread. ^(GOERT)

Propagation

Bromus species reproduce by seed. Annual species produce a large number of seeds that can remain viable in the soil for several years. ^{(ND Gov)} Perennial species like smooth brome also spread vegetatively through vigorous rhizomes, allowing them to form dense sods. ^{(ResearchGate)}

Seed dispersal is primarily by wind and by animals, as the awns can attach to fur and feathers. Human activity, such as the movement of contaminated hay or machinery, is also a significant vector for spread. ^(GOERT)

Lore & History

The history of many Bromus species is tied to their global spread as contaminants in seed grain and through intentional introduction for forage. Smooth brome (B. inermis) was introduced to the United States from Eurasia in 1884 by the California Experiment Station for its potential as a forage crop. ^{(ND Gov)} Rye brome (B. secalinus) earned its name because its seeds resemble rye and it was a common weed in rye fields. ^(Wikipedia)

BROMUS BROME GRASS

Family: Poaceae - Grass

Bromus is the sole genus in the tribe Bromeae. It belongs to the cool-season grass subfamily Pooideae. The genus is distinguished by its closed leaf sheaths, panicle inflorescences, and typically subapical awns. While some species are valuable for agriculture, many are considered among the most problematic invasive weeds in the world. ^(Wikipedia)

References

• E-flora - E-flora B.C. Electronic Atlas of the Flora of B.C. - Vascular Plant Collections List (Version Dec. 2010) - Vancouver Island - https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/DB_Query/RegionalResults.aspx?list=MOE_REGN®ion=Vancouver%20Island&vascular=1, Accessed August 13, 2025
• (GOERT) - Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team. (n.d.). Rip-gut brome & Barren brome. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://goert.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/IS-factsheet-bromus-rigidus-sterilis.pdf
• (Invasive.org) - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. (n.d.). Bromus species. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
• (KSRE) - Kansas State University Research and Extension. (n.d.). C402 Smooth Brome Production and Utilization. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/smooth-brome-production-and-utilization_C402.pdf
• (Natural Medicinal Herbs) - (n.d.). HAIRY BROME - Bromus ramosus. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/b/bromus-ramosus=hairy-brome.php
• (ND Gov) - North Dakota State Government. (n.d.). SMOOTH BROME (Bromus inermis). Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.library.nd.gov/statedocs/AgDept/Smoothbrome20080122.pdf
• (ResearchGate) - Poudel, S. (2022). Impacts and Drivers of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) Invasion in Native Ecosystems. Plants, 11(11), 1422. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360712301_Impacts_and_Drivers_of_Smooth_Brome_Bromus_inermis_Leyss_Invasion_in_Native_Ecosystems
• (ResearchGate Allelopathy) - Machado, S. (2007). Allelopathic Potential of Various Plant Species on Downy Brome: Implications for Weed Control in Wheat Production. Agronomy Journal, 99(1), 127-132. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
• (ResearchGate Phytochem) - Ali, H., Sannai, J., Sher, H., & Aldosari, A. (2021). Phytochemical screening and biological activities of Bromus pectinatus Thunb. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 34(1), 151-156. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
• (Trawin Seeds) - Trawin Seeds. (2018). Forage Factsheet – Smooth Bromegrass. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://trawinseeds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Forage-Factsheet-%E2%80%93-Smooth-Bromegrass.pdf
• (UC IPM) - University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources. (n.d.). Weed Gallery: Bromegrasses. UC Statewide IPM Program. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/bromegrasses.html
• (USDA FEIS) - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. (n.d.). Bromus hordeaceus. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/graminoid/brohor/all.html
• (USDA Plants) - U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRCS. (n.d.). Plant Guide: CALIFORNIA BROME Bromus carinatus. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_brca5.pdf
• (Wikipedia) - Wikipedia contributors. (2025, May 2). Bromus. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromus.

Image References

1. Bromus inermis, Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons