Bromus carinatus

Bromus carinatus
File:Bromus carinatus NRCS-1.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Bromus
Species:	B. carinatus
Binomial name
Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn.
Synonyms
Bromus breviaristatus Bromus laciniatus Bromus marginatus Ceratochloa carinata

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

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.

Description

Bromus carinatus is a perennial bunchgrass growing in clumps 0.5 to 1.5 meters tall, with many narrow leaves up to 40 centimeters 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 cleistogamous, so that the flowers pollinate themselves, especially under stressful conditions. It also reproduces vegetatively via tillers.

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

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