Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Poales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Bromus tectorum
FAMILY
Poaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Downy Brome from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Bromus tectorum
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24 (2007)
Bromus tectorum
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-14-001:
Bromus tectorum FAMILY Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Bromus tectorum
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Bromus tectorum
COMMON NAME:
Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_brte_001_lvd
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950 pnd_brte_002_lvd
)
USDA / Selected Weeds of the US. 1970 swus_page_047
)
Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org bug_1383019
Month Unknown
Its ligules are 0.04-0.1 in. (1-2.5 mm) long, per www.invasive.org.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5270027
Month Unknown
Panicles generally nodding; spikelets drooping, each 2-3.5cm long, per www.invasive.org.
)
Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org bug_5364419
Month Unknown
The glumes are awl-shaped, per www.invasive.org.
)
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org bug_5387165
Month Unknown
The leaf sheaths and blades are covered with soft short hairs, per www.invasive.org.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5449007
Month Unknown
Panicles 5-20cm long, have numerous branches, and retain an open quality, per www.invasive.org.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5449047
Month Unknown
B. tectorum has a fibrous root system that is finely divided, per www.invasive.org.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5449049
Month Unknown
The leaves are 0.08-0.16 in. (2-4 mm) wide and up to 8 in. (20 cm) long, per www.invasive.org.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5449075
Month Unknown
Seeds can germinate in fall or spring; fall germination is more common, per www.invasive.org.
)
D. Walters and C. Southwick, Table Grape Weed Disseminule ID, USDA APHIS ITP, B bug_5461369
Month Unknown
Lemmas narrowly lanceolate, toothed, with slender straight awns, per www.invasive.org.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Bromus tectorum
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Bromus tectorum
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24
Bromus tectorum
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-14-001:
Bromus tectorum
FAMILY
Poaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Bromus tectorum
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Bromus tectorum
3035
Grass, Sedge, or Rush
Annual
Habitat: Disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Europe
Common (uncommon in GA Piedmont) (rare in Coastal Plain)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate, 2-ranked
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Spikelets reddish at maturity
Inflorescence a panicle
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer
Spikelets reddish at maturity
Grain
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p391
- Manual of the Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950) p054
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".