| Bromus squarrosus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Bromus |
| Species: | B. squarrosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Bromus squarrosus | |
Bromus squarrosus, the rough brome, is a brome grass native to Russia and Europe. The specific epithet squarrosus is Latin, meaning "with spreading tips". The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus squarrosus is an annual grass, with culms growing 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in) high. The culms are hollow and bear four to five leaves with sheaths shorter than the blades. The leaf sheaths are pubescent and the leaf blades are typically pubescent but occasionally glabrous. The leaf blades are 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. The prominent ragged ligules are shaggy and 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long. The unilateral and lax panicles have few spreading or ascending branches that are erect in youth tend to nod at maturity. The racemose panicles are 7–20 cm (2.8–7.9 in) long and 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) wide, and the branches are typically longer than the spikelets. The spikelets are typically solitary, lanceolate in youth and becoming more ovate at maturity, and are 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) broad. The densely flowered spikelets bear ten to twenty flowers each, with the base of the florets hidden at maturity. The glumes can be smooth or scabrous. The lower glumes are three to five-veined and 4.5–7 mm (0.18–0.28 in) long, and the upper glumes are seven-veined and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long. The unequal and ovate lemmas have nine faint nerves and broad translucent margins measuring as broad as 1 mm (0.039 in), and the lemmas do not roll inwards at maturity as other Bromus species typically would. The lemmas themselves are 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long and 2–2.4 mm (0.079–0.094 in) wide. The twisted and strongly divergent awns are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long. The small anthers are approximately 1 mm (0.039 in) long and have notches at their ends. The caryopses are just as long as the paleas, and are flat or slightly rolled inwards. [1] [2]
The long nine-ribbed palea and the oblong spikelets morphologically distinguish the species from most other Bromus species. [3]
The grass flowers in June and July.
Bromus squarrosus grows in overgrazed pastures, fields, and road verges. It prefers loamy or alluvial soils. It is native to central Russia and southern Europe, but is naturalized throughout southern Canada and the northern United States. [2] [4]
Bromus arvensis, the field brome, is a brome grass native to Europe and Asia. The specific epithet arvensis is Latin, meaning "of cultivated land".
Bromus hordeaceus, the soft brome, is an annual or biennial species of grass in the true grass family (Poaceae). It is also known in North America as bull grass, soft cheat, and soft chess.
Bromus interruptus, commonly known as the interrupted brome, is a flowering plant in the grass family. It is endemic to southern and central England, which became extinct in the wild in 1972. After several decades in cultivation, the interrupted brome was re-introduced to Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve in 2004, marking the first known re-introduction of an extinct plant in Britain. The plant was a weed of waste places and arable agriculture, particularly of sainfoin cultivation. It can be distinguished from all other Bromus species by its deeply split, or bifid, palea.
Bromus secalinus is a species of bromegrass known as rye brome. The specific epithet secalinus is Latin, meaning "rye-like". The fruits are hard, rounded glumes that appear superficially similar to the rye grain, which gives the brome its common and scientific name. The grass has a diploid number of 28.
Bromus madritensis is a species of brome grass known by the common name compact brome. The specific epithet madritensis refers to Madrid, Spain. It has a diploid number of 28.
Bromus briziformis is a species of brome grass known by the common name rattlesnake brome. The specific epithet briziformis comes from the resemblance of the grass to grasses of the genus Briza, particularly Briza maxima. The common name is derived from the resemblance of the spikelets to the rattles of rattlesnakes. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus catharticus is a species of brome grass known by the common names rescuegrass, grazing brome, prairie grass, and Schrader's bromegrass. The specific epithet catharticus is Latin, meaning cathartic. The common name rescuegrass refers to the ability of the grass to provide forage after harsh droughts or severe winters. The grass has a diploid number of 42.
Bromus ciliatus is a species of brome grass known by the common name fringed brome. It is native to most of North America, including most of Canada, most of the United States except for some portions of the South, and northern Mexico. It is a plant of many habitats, including temperate coniferous forest. The specific epithet ciliatus is Latin for "ciliate", referring to the delicate hairs of the leaf blades.
Bromus kalmii, the Arctic brome or prairie brome, is a species of brome grass. It is a native bunchgrass in the North-central and Northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada. The specific epithet kalmii refers to its discoverer Pehr Kalm.
Melica ciliata, the hairy melic or silky spike melic, is a species of perennial bunchgrass native to Europe, north Africa, and temperate Asia. It has been introduced to South Australia.
Bromus erectus, commonly known as erect brome, upright brome or meadow brome, is a dense, course, tufted perennial grass. It can grow to 120 centimetres (47 in). Like many brome grasses the plant is hairy. The specific epithet erectus is Latin, meaning "erect". The diploid number of the grass is 56.
Bromus aleutensis, commonly known as the Aleutian brome, is a perennial grass found in North America. B. aleutensis has a diploid number of 56.
Melica tibetica, is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to China and can be found in such provinces as Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Melica mollis is a species of grass endemic to Chile where it grows in rock crevices at 340 metres (1,120 ft) above sea level.
Melica radula is a species of grass endemic to China. It grows on grassy mountain slopes and larch forests at 300–1,200 metres (980–3,940 ft) above sea level.
Bromus latiglumis, the earlyleaf brome, is a grass native to North America. The specific epithet latiglumis is Latin for "broad-glumed", referring to the wide glumes.
Bromus nottowayanus, the Nottoway Valley brome or satin brome, is a brome grass native to North America. The specific epithet nottowayanus refers to the Nottoway Valley. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus japonicus, the Japanese brome, is an annual brome grass native to Eurasia. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus pacificus, the Pacific brome, is a perennial grass native to the Pacific coast of North America. Bromus pacificus has a diploid number of 28.
Puccinellia laurentiana is a perennial grass which grows on gravelly seashores in south-eastern Canada. Its specific epithet "laurentiana" refers to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where it grows.