Bromus madritensis L. ssp. rubens (L.) Husnot

=Bromus rubens

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Europe

Foxtail Chess

Red Brome

                                       April Photo

 

Plant characteristics:  annual, 1.5-4 dm tall, puberulent below the panicle; sheaths and blades pubescent, the latter mostly 1.5-5 mm. wide; panicle erect, ovoid, compact, reddish, 2-7 cm. long; spikes 7-11 fld., ca. 2.5 cm. long; glumes narrow, acuminate, pubescent or sometimes smooth, the 1st 1-nerved, 7-9 mm. long, the 2nd 3-nerved, 10-12 mm. long; lemmas 5-nerved, lanceolate, acute, 12-16 mm. long, ending in 2 long hyaline teeth; awn 18-22 mm. long.

 

Habitat:  Common troublesome weed in waste places and cult. Ground at low elevs., deserts, cismontane and insular areas.  March-June.

 

Name:  Greek, bromos, ancient name for the oat and Latin, rubeo, reddening.  (Jaeger 39, 224).  Latin, madidus, moist, to be wet.  (Jaeger 148).  I do not see the relationship to the species name.  John Johnson suggests that madritensis may refer to the Madrid province of Spain.  It is an old Linnaean name.

 

General:  Very common throughout the study area.  Photographed on the North Star Flats and the Castaway’s Bluffs.  (my comments).      This species is a common weedy grass throughout California.  It spreads rapidly from seed, and the sharp awns of the mature grass make it a troublesome weed.  It is widely distributed in the interior valleys of the State and much of the first cutting of alfalfa grown in these valleys is infested with the weed.  It is regarded as one of the most obnoxious weeds in southern California.  It has come to replace much of the native vegetation of plains and hills.  It is worthless as forage and when dry becomes a serious fire hazard.  (Robbins et al. 62-62).       About 100 species of temperate regions.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 951).

 

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1243; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 956); Robbins et al. 62; Roberts, A Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Orange County, California. 1998.

Photo Ref: Jan2 84 #10; Jan 4, Feb 1 84 #14; April-June 03 #4.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  January 1984.

 

Computer Ref: Plant Data 40.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 11/26/04.

 

                             April Photo                                                       February Photo