BROME GRASS 



331 



BROME GRASS 



418. Origin and Description. Brome grass, Bromus 

 inermis, is a native of Europe, from which country it was 

 introduced into the United States at a comparatively recent 

 date. It is variously known as Russian brome, smooth 

 brome grass, and awnless brome grass. It is a deep-rooting, 

 stoloniferous grass, with an abundance of root leaves and a 

 good supply of culm leaves. The culms are erect, from 



to 4 feet tall, bearing a spreading 

 panicle from 6 to 10 inches long. 

 The spikelets are about 1 inch 

 long, one-fourth as broad, and 

 contain several flowers. The 

 seeds are three-eighths to one- 

 half inch long, and are awnless. 

 The grain or caryopsis is about 

 one-fourth of an inch in length, 

 and is brown in color. 



419. Importance. Brome grass 

 is of such recent introduction in- 

 to this country that its value is 

 not yet well understood. It 

 seems to be unquestionably the 

 best tame pasture grass for the 

 Great Plains region and the 

 Pacific Northwest, and it is of 



more or less value throughout the North Central and 

 Northeastern states. It will probably be many years, 

 however, before it replaces Kentucky blue grass to any 

 extent in the Northeastern states as a pasture grass, or 

 timothy as a hay grass. It does not thrive in the South and 

 should not be planted farther south than central Kansas, 



Fig. 103. Brome 

 Note the running rootstocks. 



