Ripgut Brome - Bromus diandrus
Other Names:
Great Brome,
Bromus rigidus
Stems 40–90 cm. Leaves: sheaths sparsely to densely long-soft-hairy; blades 2–5 mm wide. Inflorescence 8–30 cm, open, drooping. Spikelets strongly compressed with 3 to 9 florets; glumes keeled, glabrous; lower 8–16 mm long, 1-veined; upper 10–18 mm long, 3-veined. Lemma body 20–25 mm long, back rounded, densely silky-hairy, teeth 3–5 mm long, thread-like; awn 14–22 mm, bent, twisted below middle (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Montana has 7 species of annual Bromes (
Bromus), and only 3 are described below. A technical manual is recommended, such as
Manual of Montana Vascular Plants (Lesica et al. 2012).
Ripgut Brome -
Bromus diandrus, exotic and undesirable
* Lemmas taper into 2 narrow teeth: bodies are 20-35 mm long and awns are greater than 10 mm.
* 1st Glume is 1-veined.
Cheatgrass –
Bromus tectorum, exotic, undesirable, and State-Regulated
* Seedlings have very hairy blades and sheaths.
* Awns are reddish-purple at maturity and easily stick to clothing and fur, and can get into the nostrils and eyes of animals.
* Glumes and lemmas are usually hairy. 1st Glume is 1-veined.
* Lemmas taper into 2 narrow teeth: bodies are 9-12 mm long and awns are greater than 10 mm.
Japanese Brome –
Bromus japonica, exotic and undesirable
* Plants tend to grow in more moist sites than does Cheatgrass (but can co-occur).
* Awns are straight or curved outward, less than 10 mm long.
* Glumes and awns not usually hairy
* 1st Glume is 3-to 5-veined.
* Spikelets often several from branch ends.
Disturbed sites, partial shade, open understory, edges of buildings, and rocky sites (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
