How to Identify Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum)
This plant here is Downy Brome. This is a grass which has been introduced from the Mediterranean and which has become common around much of the world. It has become extremely invasive in the United States. This is a winter annual which sets seed in late spring and early summer.

The plant has long, thin stems which grow in a bunchgrass habit. The entire surface of the plant is covered in fine, soft hairs. The ligules are short and membranous, and there are no auricles on the leaf base.

The leaves are flat blades which are light green in color and totally smooth.

The seed head is 2 to 6 inches long, one-sided and drooping. The spikeletes are 3/8 to ¾ inches long, while the awns are about half an inch long and purplish in color.

The plant has an extensive, dense shallow root system, and only reproduces via seed.

It takes on a reddish-purplish color when mature.

Downy Brome can live in a wide variety of soils, and can withstand even heavy tillage. It is common along roadsides, waste areas, pastures, rangelands, and cultivated crop areas.
Young plants are edible, and make good grazing material for livestock.

This is an incredibly invasive species that will outcompete and contaminate valuable crops, alfalfa and winter wheat. It is listed as a noxious weed and is so widespread and competitive that it has become one of the most common plants in all of North America. In addition, as it dries before late summer it becomes a serious fire hazard, and greatly increases the probability of wildfire and property damage.


Sources:

Weeds of the West, 5th Edition (1991) by Tom D. Whitson, published by the Western Society of Weed Science

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources IPM – Weed Gallery
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United States Department of Agriculture – Plant Database
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