SafePlants

Soft Brome (Bromus hordeaceus)

Considerations for Pets

• Soft brome has soft awns.
• The plant has hairy stems and leaves.
• The seed head has a silky touch.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

• Scientific Name: Bromus hordeaceus
• Common Names: Soft brome, soft chess, bull grass, soft cheat
• Family: Poaceae (true grass family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Synonyms/Subspecies:
  • Bromus hordeaceus ssp. hordeaceus
  • Bromus hordeaceus ssp. molliformis
  • Bromus mollis (mentioned as a synonym, though likely outdated)
  • Bromus lepidus (slender soft brome)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Eurasia, particularly the Mediterranean region.
• Naturalized in all continents except Antarctica.
• Common throughout the UK.
• Found in roadside verges, waste grounds, meadows, cultivated ground, open disturbed areas, and dunes.
• Widely distributed at lower elevation areas in California.

Morphological Characteristics

• Annual or biennial grass.
• Grows from 30cm up to 80 cm tall.
• Tufted growth habit.
• Stems are bent at the nodes.
• Stems are upright and hairy (compared to meadow brome).
• Leaves are flat, up to 12 cm long and 6 mm wide, and softly hairy. Leaves are rolled in bud.
• Panicle is erect, 5 to 10 cm long, usually with many ovoid-conical tapering spikelets 10 to 25 mm long.
• Compact seed head with soft awns.
• Stems are round in cross-section.
• The erect culm is light green, terete, and finely pubescent.

Ecological Role

• Can be an arable weed.
• Often found in cultivated areas where the soil is open and frequently disturbed.

Quirky Facts

• The name "soft brome" refers to the silky touch of the seed head.

Further Information

• Bayer CropScience is mentioned as a source of information on managing soft brome.
• CalPhotos is referenced as a source for photographs.
• ResearchGate hosts a full-text publication on Bromus hordeaceus.