How to Manage Pests

Identification: Weed Photo Gallery

Bromegrasses

Scientific name: Bromus spp. (Family Poaceae)

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Bromegrasses consist of a large group of species including both perennial and annual grasses. Some are valuable as forage and others are important weeds. The photos here show Bromus hordeaceous, soft brome, also called soft chess and ripgut brome, B. diandrus. Soft brome is a widely distributed annual at low elevation areas in California, especially in open, disturbed sites. Ripgut brome is a cool season annual grass. Although found throughout California, it is most abundant in the central and southern parts of the state. Other common bromegrasses found in California agricultural situations include rescuegrass, B. catharticus, and downy brome, B. tectorum.

Collar

Most species have membranous ligules but no auricles.

Mature

Soft brome plants are distinguished by dense soft hairs on the sheath.

Flower

Most species have long spikelets with needlelike awns.

• Ripgut brome has long spikelets with needlelike awns, 1 to 2 inches (2.5–5 cm) long.
• Rescuegrass, is awnless or has awns no longer than 3/25 of an inch (3 mm).
• Downy brome is quite hairy and has awns about one-half inch long.
• Soft brome plants are distinguished by compact spikelets with awns about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long (6.4–13 mm) long.

Related species/Similar looking plants

Soft brome
Ripgut brome
Rescuegrass
Downy brome

More information

• Grass ID illustration
• Ripgut brome Calflora’s distribution map
• Soft brome Calflora’s distribution map
• Rescuegrass Calflora’s distribution map
• Downy brome Calflora’s distribution map
• See UC IPM's Pest Management Guidelines for agricultural information