cheatgrass, downy brome

Bromus tectorum L.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance
Bromus tectorum is an erect-stemmed annual grass that grows to about 8-25 in. (20-70 cm) in height.
Foliage
The leaf sheaths and blades are covered with soft short hairs. The leaves are 0.08-0.16 in. (2-4 mm) wide and up to 8 in. (20 cm) long. Its ligules are 0.04-0.1 in. (1-2.5 mm) long.
Flowers
The panicles measure 2-7.75 in. (5-20 cm) long, have numerous branches, retain an open quality and are generally nodding. The panicles bear from 3 to 8 drooping spikelets, each spikelet is 0.8-1.4 in. (2-3.5 cm) long. The glumes are awl-shaped. The lemmas are narrowly lanceolate, 0.04-0.06 in. (1-1.5 mm) wide, toothed, and sometimes hairy. They have slender, straight awns that are 0.4-0.67 in. (10-17 mm) long. Flowering occurs from May to June.
Fruit
The seeds can germinate in the fall or in the spring; fall germination is generally more common. B. tectorum has a fibrous root system is finely divided. When a seed germinates in the fall, the developing root system is able to expand over the winter, giving the plant an increased ability to exploit available water and nutrients in the spring.
Ecological Threat
Bromus tectorum has the ability to draw down soil moisture and nutrients to very low levels, making it difficult for other species to compete. An increased cycle of fires favors annual species at the expense of many perennials. Due to its tendency to mature early and then dry out, it gains a competitive advantage through the promotion of fire. It is an agricultural, nursery and orchard pest.

Resources

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Fruit(s)
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s)
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) Ligule
Fred Fishel, University of Missouri, Bugwood.org
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Feature(s) Ligule
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s) habit
Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) Inflorescence close-up
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Root(s)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
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Infestation Native to the Mediterranean region, is one of the most widespread weeds in the American West.
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s)
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Infestation
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s) Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC.
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s) Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 1: 274.
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
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Distribution