Prairie Grass
Bromus catharticus
Densely tufted introduced grass to 100 cm tall with flat rough leaves. The flattened flowerheads are large and wide with 6-12 relatively large individual flowers (florets) up to 20 mm long.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Grasses |
| Distinctive Features | Flowerheads are large, containing dense flower clusters, and have a nodding appearance. The seedheads lack the bristle or awn characteristic of Bromes, or if present it is much reduced. |
| Biology | Perennial. Occurs over a wide environmental range however is most abundant in cooler, wetter sites. Rarely invades undisturbed plant communities. |
| Native Status | Introduced |
| Flowering Time | Sep-Dec |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Genus | Bromus |
| Species | catharticus |
Introduced to Australia from South America as a pasture grass because of its feed quality and ability to grow in cooler times of the year. Has not persisted in pasture but is now widespread as a weed in temperate Australia.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Similar Species | Similar to Short Brome B. brevis and to B. catharticusÃ_var.Ã_rupestris which is softly hairy and has a bluish appreance and has shorter more compact flowerheads. |
| Native Status | Introduced |