smooth brome
Bromus inermis Leyss.

Overview

Appearance

Bromus inermis is a perennial grass that is 1-3.5 ft. (0.3-1.1 m) tall.

Foliage

The leaves have a fine texture and are alternate, 0.25-0.75 in. (0.6-1.9 cm) wide, 6-15 in. (15.2-38.1 cm) long, glabrous, flat, and grayish blue on the upper surface and green on the lower surface.

Flowers

Flowers are contained in drooping panicles and appear in early to mid-summer. Each branch of the inflorescence has several purplish spikelets, each containing 7-10 flowers. Flowers, when in bloom, are yellow in color.

Fruit

Seeds are brown and are produced in 4-8 in. (10.2-20.3 cm) long panicles on ascending branches of the flower head. The seed period occurs in summer.

Ecological Threat

This grass prefers sunny areas along roadsides and also in fields, pastures and prairies. Bromus inermis is a native of Europe and was introduced into the United States in the late 1800’s.

General Description:Bromus inermis is a deeply rooting, rhizomatous perennial grass.

Diagnostic Characteristics: The ascending or stiff branches of the open panicle are a key characteristic distinguishing Bromus inermis and Bromus erectus from a group of similar native bromegrasses. The awnless lemmas, from which the species derives its Latin name, distinguish Bromus inermis from both the introduced and similar Bromus erectus and from the native Bromus pumpellianus.

Resources

• Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service
• Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
• Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
• Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
• Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
• John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
• Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Significant Threat
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• Ohio Invasive Species Council
• Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States

References