Bromus tectorum L.   Poaceae (Grass Family)   Eurasia   Cheat Grass   Downey Brome

                                       April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, 5-40 cm. tall; lf. sheath generally  densely soft-hairy; blade 1-5 mm. wide, +/- glabrous to densely soft-hairy, generally long-ciliate near base; infl. 6-22 cm. long, generally open but to +/- dense; branches spreading to nodding; primary infl. branches generally with 2+  spikelets; spikelets subcylindric to slightly compressed; glumes glabrous to short-hairy, lower 5-8 mm., 1 veined, upper 7-12 mm., 3 veined; florets 3-7; lemma body 9-13 mm., 5-7 veined, glabrous to short-hairy, tip with 2 teeth, 1-3 mm. long, awn 8-18 mm.

Habitat:  Open, disturbed places below 2200 meters CA; Western hemisphere.  (Hickman, Ed. 1243).

Name:  Brome, ancient Greek name for the oat.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 951.  Latin, tectus, covered.  (Jaeger 258).  The species name may refer to the hairs on the leaf sheaths?  (my comment).

General:  Common in the study area and once the differences between this species and B. madritensis ssp. rubens are understood both can be identified easily in the field.  (my comment).       This brome is widespread throughout North America, and is especially abundant on the Pacific Coast.  It occurs along roadsides and in waste places, also in fields and pastures, usually on dry or gravelly soils. (Robbins et al. 65).      B. tectorum, was considered famine food by the Cahuilla, Indians of the Colorado Desert, the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains.  The small seeds were gathered in quantity during periods of food shortage and cooked into a gruel,  apparently without grinding.  The plant is not well remembered by the Cahuilla, its usage was pointed out by Caliso Tortes to Harry C. James.  Undoubtedly many other grasses in Cahuilla territory were similarly used during periods of food shortage.  (Bean 48).      Bromus tectorum is stated to be introduced from Europe, thus, it was not available to Indians before arrival of the Spanish in Calif.  (John Johnson).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1243; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 956.  Roberts 46.

Photo Ref:  Sept 95 # 7,10.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 481.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 4/11/03.

                                             April Photo