Bromus rubens L.

by Tyler D. Johnson BIO 414 Summer 2005
Common names : foxtail brome, foxtail chess, red brome (1)
Family : Poaceae (1)
Synonymy : Anisantha rubens (L.) Nevski, Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens (L.) Husnot (1)
Growth form : Dense panicle with a purplish tinge and pubescent culm The culms vary from 10-70 cm tall. (1)
Roots : Shallow root system (1).
Stem : several to numerous stems spread from the base of the plant, 8-20 cm tall, usually less. (2)
Leaves : About 2 to 4 inches long, flat, sparsely covered with fine rather fuzzy hairs (2)
Inflorescence/flowers : 1/2 to 3 inches long by about half as wide; dense, borne erect on the ends of unbranched stems, with a kind of bottle-brush appearance. As seedheads mature they become reddish-brown to purplish. (2)

Ecology
Life history: Annual bunch grass (1)
Native/Introduced : Introduced (2)
Phenology : Cool season grass in AZ (2)
Distribution :   Open hillsides, woodland and chaparral areas. Particularly common on ranges where the original perennial grass cover has deteriorated. This grass appears to be spreading in Arizona and has been reported from Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, Gila, Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties. (2)

Uses
Red brome is most valuable as a forage species when grazed early in the spring to make maximum use of available forage before seedheads mature

References :

1. Invasive Species Specialist Group Website

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=596&fr=1&sts=

2. Arizona Range Grasses Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona Website.

http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/natresources/az1272/grassdescription/redbrome.html