Bromus carinatus

Bromus carinatus is a species of brome grass known by the common names California brome and mountain brome.

Bromus carinatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Pooideae
Genus:	Bromus
Species:	B. carinatus
Binomial name
Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn.
Synonyms
Bromus compressus Lag. Bromus nitens Nutt. ex A. Gray Bromus oregonus Nutt. ex Hook. f. Bromus oregonus Nutt. ex Shear Bromus pendulinus Sessé ex Lag. Bromus schaffneri (E. Fourn.) Scribn. & Merr. Bromus virens Buckley Ceratochloa carinata (Hook. & Arn.) Tutin Ceratochloa grandiflora Hook. Festuca pendulina Spreng.

Description

Bromus carinatus is a perennial bunchgrass growing in clumps 0.5 to 1.5 metres (1+1⁄2 to 5 feet) tall, with many narrow leaves up to 40 centimetres (15+1⁄2 inches) long. The inflorescence is a spreading or drooping array of flat spikelets longer than they are wide.

The grass is wind-pollinated but is also sometimes cleistogamy, so that the flowers pollinate themselves, especially under stressful conditions. It also reproduces vegetatively via tillers.

The species is highly variable. It can be easily confused with B. catharticus and B. stamineus.

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  Bromus carinatus near Peshastin, Chelan County, Washington

Distribution and habitat

It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat. It is known in parts of the American midwest and eastern North America as an introduced species.

Uses

This grass is used for control of erosion and revegetation of damaged land, as well as a highly palatable forage for livestock; however, it has the capacity to become a noxious weed in agricultural settings.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment - Bromus carinatus
• USDA Plants Profile
• Forest Service Fire Ecology
• Bromus carinatus - Photo gallery