OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Commelinids: Poales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Bromus tectorum   FAMILY Poaceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Bromus tectorum   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24 (2007)

Bromus tectorum

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-14-001:

Bromus tectorum   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)

Bromus tectorum

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Bromus tectorum

 

COMMON NAME:
Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913    pnd_brte_001_lvd

        

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950    pnd_brte_002_lvd

        

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

USDA / Selected Weeds of the US. 1970    swus_page_047

        

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org    bug_1383019

Month Unknown        

Its ligules are 0.04-0.1 in. (1-2.5 mm) long, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org    bug_5270027

Month Unknown        

Panicles generally nodding; spikelets drooping, each 2-3.5cm long, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org    bug_5364419

Month Unknown        

The glumes are awl-shaped, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org     bug_5387165

Month Unknown        

The leaf sheaths and blades are covered with soft short hairs, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org    bug_5449007

Month Unknown        

Panicles 5-20cm long, have numerous branches, and retain an open quality, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org    bug_5449047

Month Unknown        

B. tectorum has a fibrous root system that is finely divided, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org    bug_5449049

Month Unknown        

The leaves are 0.08-0.16 in. (2-4 mm) wide and up to 8 in. (20 cm) long, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org    bug_5449075

Month Unknown        

Seeds can germinate in fall or spring; fall germination is more common, per www.invasive.org.

image of Bromus tectorum, Downy Brome, Downy Chess, Downy Cheat, Cheatgrass

D. Walters and C. Southwick, Table Grape Weed Disseminule ID, USDA APHIS ITP, B    bug_5461369

Month Unknown        

Lemmas narrowly lanceolate, toothed, with slender straight awns, per www.invasive.org.

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Bromus tectorum   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Bromus tectorum   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24
Bromus tectorum

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-14-001:
Bromus tectorum   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Bromus tectorum

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Bromus tectorum

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

3035

Grass, Sedge, or Rush
Annual

Habitat: Disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora

Non-native: Europe

Common (uncommon in GA Piedmont) (rare in Coastal Plain)

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.


INVASIVE

This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:

 

LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate, 2-ranked

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Spikelets reddish at maturity

Inflorescence a panicle

FRUIT:
Spring/Summer
Spikelets reddish at maturity
Grain

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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