Bromus sterilis

Barren brome
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Bromus
Species:	B. sterilis
Binomial name
Bromus sterilis L.
Synonyms
Anisantha sterilis (L.) Nevski Zerna sterilis (L.) Panz. (nom. inval.) : List sources :

Introduction

Bromus sterilis is an annual or biennial species of bromegrass known as barren brome, poverty brome, and sterile brome.

Range

It can be found between sea level and 365 metres, along roadsides, hedge bottoms, and is a common weed of waste ground and gardens.

This grass is native to:

• northern Africa (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia);
• western and middle Asia (Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan); the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Russian Federation in Ciscaucasia and Dagestan);
• northern, middle, eastern, and southeastern Europe (Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, including Corsica, Germany, Greece, including Crete, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, including Sardinia and Sicily, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, including the Balearic Islands, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, the United Kingdom, and the former Yugoslavian states).

Identification

This is an annual or biennial grass ranging from about 20 to 90 centimeters in maximum height. It has a small leaf blade and its inflorescence is spreading, with the lower parts drooping more than the upper. The spikelet is up to 3 centimeters long.

The leaves are rough and hairy, green to purplish in colour. The ligule is pointed,toothed, 2 to 4 mm long.

The panicles are loose, open and nodding. The spikelets are 4 to 6cm long, with awns, producing 4 to 10 flowers.

Invasive plant species

It is well-known in many parts of the world where it has an introduced species. It is a noxious weed on the eastern and western sides of North America, a Invasive species in California.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Photo gallery