From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bromus is a large genus of the true grass family (Poaceae), with about 160 species. Estimates in the scientific literature of the number of species have ranged from 100 to 400. They are commonly known as bromes, brome grasses or chess grasses
[edit] Description
Bromus species occur in many habitats in temperate regions of the world, including the Americas, Eurasia, Australia, and Africa. There is a wide variety between some species, while the morphological differences between others are subtle and difficult to distinguish. As such, the taxonomy of the genus is complicated.
The genus Bromus is distinguished from other grass genera by the combination of several morphological characteristics, including leaf sheaths that are closed (connate) for most of their length, awns that are usually inserted subapically, and hairy appendages on the ovary. The leaves and sheaths can be hairless, sparsely hairy or hairy. The inflorescence is a loose or open panicle, usually drooping or nodding, sometimes spreading (as in Japanese Brome, B. japonicus).
[edit] Ecology
The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use Bromus as a foodplant, e.g. the Chequered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon).
Bromus species are generally considered to have low utility value to humans. As names like Bromus fibrosus, Poverty Brome (B. sterilis) or Ripgut Brome attest, they are not very useful as fodder because their leaves sclerotize quickly and may even be harmful to livestock due to the high silica content. Brome grasses are not usually found as ornamental plants due to most species' nondescript appearance. Some are useful to prevent erosion but such use must be cautiously controlled as most Bromus have the ability to spread, becoming invasive weeds.
[edit] Taxonomy and systematics
Taxonomists have generated various classification schemes to reflect the morphological variation that is seen in Bromus. In North America, five sections are generally recognized: Bromus, Genea, Ceratochloa, Neobromus, and Bromopsis. Sections Bromus and Genea are native to the Old World (Eurasia), but many species are introduced into North America. Sections Bromopsis, Neobromus, and Ceratochloa have several native species in North America.
[edit] Selected species
- Bromus aleutensis – Aleutian Brome
- Bromus alopecuros – Weedy Brome
- Bromus anomalus – Nodding Brome
- Bromus arenarius – Australian Brome
- Bromus arizonicus – Arizona Brome
- Bromus arvensis – Field Brome, Schrader's Brome
- Bromus benekii – Lesser Hairy Brome
- Bromus berteroanus – Chilean Chess (B. berterianus is a common lapsus)
- Bromus biebersteinii – Meadow Brome
- Bromus briziformis – Rattlesnake Brome, Quake Grass.
- Bromus bromoideus – Ardennes Brome, Brome of the Ardennes
- Bromus carinatus – California Brome, Mountain Brome
- Bromus catharticus – Rescuegrass, Australian Oat
- Bromus ciliatus – Fringed Brome (syn. B. canadensis)
- Bromus ciliatus subsp. ciliatus
- Bromus ciliatus subsp. richardsonii
- Bromus commutatus – Meadow Brome
- Bromus danthoniae
- Bromus diandrus – Great Brome, "Ripgut Brome"
- Bromus erectus – Upright Brome, Erect Brome
- Bromus fibrosus
- Bromus frondosus – Weeping Brome
- Bromus grandis – Tall Brome
- Bromus grossus – Great Rye Brome, Whiskered Brome
- Bromus hordeaceus – Soft Brome, Bull Grass, Soft Cheat, Soft Chess
- Bromus hordeaceus ssp. ferronii – Least Soft Brome
- Bromus hordeaceus ssp. hordeaceus
- Bromus hordeaceus ssp. molliformis
- Bromus hordeaceus ssp. pseudothominii
- Bromus hordeaceus ssp. thominei – Lesser Soft Brome
- Bromus inermis – Hungarian Brome
- Bromus inermis ssp. inermis – Awnless Brome
- Bromus inermis ssp. inermis var. divaricatus
- Bromus inermis ssp. inermis var. inermis
- Bromus inermis ssp. pumpellianus – Pumpelly's Brome
- Bromus inermis ssp. pumpellianus var. arcticus
- Bromus inermis ssp. pumpellianus var. pumpellianus
- Bromus interruptus – Interrupted Brome
- Bromus japonicus – Japanese Brome
- Bromus kalmii – Arctic Brome, Prairie Brome
- Bromus laevipes – Chinook Brome
- Bromus lanatipes – Woolly Brome
- Bromus lanceolatus – Mediterranean Brome
- Bromus latiglumis – Earlyleaf Brome
- Bromus lepidus – Slender Soft Brome
- Bromus luzonensis – Hoary Brome
- Bromus macrostachys
- Bromus madritensis – Compact Brome
- Bromus mango – Mango Brome
- Bromus marginatus – Mountain Brome
- Bromus maritimus – Seaside Brome
- Bromus mucroglumis – Sharpglume Brome
- Bromus nottowayanus – Nottoway Valley Brome
- Bromus orcuttianus – Orcutt's Brome
- Bromus pacificus – Pacific Brome
- Bromus polyanthus – Great Basin Brome
- Bromus polyanthus ssp. paniculatus
- Bromus polyanthus ssp. polyanthus
- Bromus porteri – Porter Brome
- Bromus pseudolaevipes – Coast Range Brome
- Bromus pseudosecalinus – False Rye Brome
- Bromus pseudothominii – Hybrid Soft Brome
- Bromus pubescens – Hairy Woodland Brome
- Bromus ramosus – Hairy Brome
- Bromus ramosus ssp. benekii – Lesser Hairy Brome
- Bromus ramosus ssp. racemosus – Smooth Brome
- Bromus rigidus – Stiff Brome, "Ripgut Brome"
- Bromus scoparius – Broom Brome
- Bromus secalinus – Rye Brome, Chess Grass, Cheat Grass
- Bromus sitchensis – Alaska Brome
- Bromus squarrosus – Rough Brome, Corn Brome
- Bromus stamineus – Roadside Brome
- Bromus sterilis – Barren Brome, Poverty Brome, Sterile Brome Grass
- Bromus suksdorfii – Suksdorf's Brome
- Bromus tectorum – Drooping Brome, Downy Brome
- Bromus texensis – Texas Brome
- Bromus vulgaris – Columbia Brome
- Bromus willdenowii – Rescue Brome
[edit] External links
Bromus - Related Items
Bromus - In the news
