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Upright Brome Grass

Bromopsis erecta

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae (Grass)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Couch Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, False Oat-grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Hybrid Marram Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Moor-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Sorghum, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Velvet Bent, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
120 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Fields, grassland, meadows, roadsides, rocky places, sand dunes, wasteland.

Flower:
֍
Green, no petals
 
Green, sometimes purple-tinged. The stiff and erect (sometimes drooping) flowering stems are composed of numerous branched heads.
Fruit:
A kind of dry, one-seeded fruit called a caryopsis.
Leaves:
A hairy perennial grass which is very common on limy grassland. The tough, green, linear leaves form tussocks. The lower leaves are sometimes inrolled.
Other Names:
Upright Brome.
Frequency (UK):
Occasionally seen  

Similar Species

California Brome Grass
California Brome Grass

Rescue Grass

Other Information

Summary

Bromopsis erecta, also known as upright brome, is a species of grass in the genus Bromopsis. It is native to Asia and Europe and can be found in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, meadows, and rocky or gravelly areas. It is a perennial grass that forms dense clumps, and can grow to a height of 2 to 4 feet. The leaves are narrow, with a smooth texture, and the plant produces spikes of small, greenish-brown flowers in the summer.

Bromopsis erecta is considered as a valuable forage grass species in many regions, providing food for both livestock and wildlife. It has a high nutritional value and can be used as hay, silage or pasture grass. It also is used for erosion control and soil conservation. However, in some regions it can be invasive and can outcompete native plants, so it should be carefully managed.

Blog

Upright Brome Grass, also known as Bromopsis erecta, is a perennial grass species that belongs to the Poaceae family. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and other parts of the world as a forage crop and a source of erosion control.

Appearance and Characteristics

Upright Brome Grass has a tall, erect stem that can grow up to 120 cm in height. Its leaves are narrow and long, with a bluish-green color and a rough texture. The flowers are arranged in a dense, spike-like inflorescence, which can grow up to 25 cm in length. The seeds are small and oblong-shaped, and can be dispersed by wind or animals.

Habitat and Distribution

Upright Brome Grass is commonly found in open grasslands, meadows, and along roadsides. It can grow in a wide range of soil types, but prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soils. It can tolerate both drought and flooding, but is most productive in areas with an annual rainfall of 500-1000 mm.

Upright Brome Grass is native to Europe and parts of Asia, but has been introduced to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is commonly used as a forage crop for livestock, as it is highly palatable and nutritious. It is also used for erosion control and re-vegetation of disturbed lands.

Ecological Importance

Upright Brome Grass is an important source of food for many grazing animals, including cattle, sheep, and deer. It is also a valuable habitat for a variety of insects, including grasshoppers, crickets, and butterflies.

Upright Brome Grass is known for its ability to tolerate drought and other environmental stresses, making it an important species for erosion control and land reclamation. Its extensive root system helps to stabilize soils and prevent erosion, while its above-ground biomass can be used to improve soil fertility.

Management

Upright Brome Grass can be managed through grazing or mowing, which helps to control its height and density. It can also be controlled using herbicides, although care should be taken to avoid damage to non-target species.

In some areas, Upright Brome Grass has become invasive and has displaced native grass species. In these cases, management strategies may include the use of prescribed burns or the introduction of grazing animals that prefer native grasses.

Upright Brome Grass is an important grass species that provides food and habitat for a variety of animals, while also contributing to erosion control and land reclamation efforts. While it can be a valuable forage crop and a useful tool for land managers, care should be taken to prevent its spread into sensitive ecosystems.

More Information

Upright Brome Grass is a versatile species that has many uses beyond its ecological importance. In addition to its role as a forage crop and erosion control agent, it is also used in landscaping and ornamental plantings. Its tall, upright growth habit and attractive inflorescence make it a popular choice for gardens and borders.

However, as with any introduced species, there is the potential for Upright Brome Grass to become invasive and cause ecological harm. In areas where it has become problematic, it can outcompete native grasses and reduce biodiversity. Therefore, it is important for land managers and homeowners to be aware of the potential risks associated with introducing Upright Brome Grass to new areas.

Upright Brome Grass is an important species that provides many benefits to both humans and the environment. Through careful management and monitoring, we can ensure that its uses are maximized while minimizing the potential for ecological harm.

One of the notable characteristics of Upright Brome Grass is its ability to grow in a wide range of soil types, making it a valuable species for land reclamation efforts. It has been used successfully to restore areas that have been disturbed by mining or construction activities, as well as to stabilize soils in areas prone to erosion.

In addition, Upright Brome Grass is known for its high seed production, which allows it to rapidly colonize disturbed areas and form dense stands. While this can be an advantage in terms of erosion control and land reclamation, it can also lead to the displacement of native grass species.

Another important aspect of Upright Brome Grass is its nutritional value as a forage crop. It is high in protein and can be used as a feed source for a variety of livestock, including cattle, sheep, and horses. In some areas, Upright Brome Grass is even used as a hay crop, providing a valuable source of winter feed for livestock.

Despite its many benefits, Upright Brome Grass is not without its drawbacks. In addition to its potential to become invasive, it can also be difficult to control once it becomes established. Its extensive root system makes it difficult to remove by hand, and herbicides may not be effective against mature plants.

In conclusion, Upright Brome Grass is a valuable species that provides many benefits to both humans and the environment. Its ability to grow in a wide range of soil types, tolerate environmental stresses, and provide a valuable source of forage make it an important species for both agriculture and land management. However, care should be taken to prevent its spread into sensitive ecosystems and to minimize the potential for ecological harm.

Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

Click to open an Interactive Map