Bromopsis, brachypodium and Anisantha - Bromes and False Bromes

Bromus hordeaceus Soft-brome is an erect grass to 120cm, sometimes with an abruptly bent stem (geniculate like a knee). The lower sheaths at least are softly hairy. ligule is blunt <2mm and finely toothed. Leaves are up to 7mm wide and hairy. The spikelets are ovate to oblong and feel soft. The awns arise from the back of the lemmas and are 6-10mm.

There are several subspecies, many coastal, but unless these are excluded record as Bromus hordeaceus agg.

Bromopsis ramosa Hairy Brome is a tall tufted perennial to 190cm with leaves to 15mm wide and flat. The sheaths hairy, especially the lower ones. The sheaths look open, but they are closed and split early. Ligule to 6mm, blunt, jaggy.

Lowest panicle has 2 branches, which then further branch to have several spikelets each 16-30mm long (excluding awns. Awns are straight 5-9mm. There is a hairy scale at the base where the panicles branch.

Bromopsis benekenii tends to be shorter (120cms) and tends to be less hairy. It has > 2 branches at the lowest panicle, some with 1 or very few spikelets which are to one side, with a ± glabrous scale at the base where the panicles branch.

Brachypodium sylvaticum  False Brome is a tufted perennial to 90cms. The stems, glabrous but hairy around nodes. Leaves, bright green, long-hairy sheaths, blades ± hairy, 4-12 mm wide, flat, narrowed towards sheath. Ligule 6mm blunt with a minutely hairy margin. Beautiful nodding raceme with 5-12 spikelets, each 20-40mm and 7-16 flowered. Lower glume longer than upper, awns 8-14mm. (Not branched compare with Bromopsis ramosa)

Anisantha sterilis Barren Brome is mainly a lowland grass can be weedy and small or grow up to 100 cm tall. The culms are loosely spreading and generally erect although the lax panicles flop markedly to one side giving the grass a leaning appearance. Leaves are rough and hairy and green to purplish and the ligules are 2-4 mm long and pointed. Spikelets are loosely scattered in the panicle on long flexible branches and quite shiny, they are elongate with long awns further extending them to between 4 and 6 cm. They move readily in the slightest breeze, animating their appearance.