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Spanish brome

Bromus madritensis

Family: Poaceae Genus: Bromus Species: madritensis

Synonyms: Bromus decipiens, Bromus asperrimus, Bromus muralis var. madritensis, Bromus madritensis var. glabriglumis, Zerna madritensis, Anisantha madritensis subsp. tefedetica, Bromus darderi, Bromus rochelianus, Forasaccus diandrus, Bromus rubens subsp. madritensis, Bromus diandrus var. polystachyus, Bromus maximus var. minor, Bromus madritensis var. villosissimus, Bromus gynandrus, Bromus madritensis var. villiglumis, Bromus madritensis var. urbicus, Bromus victorinii, Bromus sterilis var. madritensis, Bromus madritensis var. ciliatus, Bromus madritensis var. diandrus, Bromus madritensis f. umbrosus, Bromus diandrus, Bromus digitatus, Bromus madritensis subsp. eumadritensis, Bromus madritensis var. purpureus, Bromus muralis, Bromus rigidus var. minor, Bromus madritensis var. polystachyus, Bromus rubens var. villosus, Bromus madritensis var. curtisii, Schedonorus madritensis var. ciliatus, Bromus varius, Bromus madritensis var. pubiculmis, Zerna madritensis var. triandra, Anisantha madritensis, Bromus diandrus var. madritensis, Bromus madritensis subsp. tefedeticus, Anisantha madritensis var. ciliata, Bromus arenaceus, Bromus madritensis var. glabriculmis, Bromus viciosoi, Genea madritensis, Bromus dilatatus, Festuca madritensis, Bromus multispicatus, Bromus madritensis f. persterilis, Bromus diandrus var. curtisii, Bromus sterilis f. varius, Bromus myrthensis, Bromus madritensis var. victorinii, Bromus madritensis var. monandrus, Bromus madritensis var. ambiguus, Bromus rubens var. polystachyus, Bromus villosus var. minor, Bromus oranensis, Forasaccus arenaceus, Bromus sterilis f. diandrus

Spanish brome (en)
Bromus madritensis โ€” flower
Bromus madritensis โ€” flower

Botanical Description

Bromus madritensis, Spanish brome or compact brome, is a tufted annual grass in the family Poaceae native to the Mediterranean basin and southwestern Europe and widely naturalized across temperate regions of the world, including parts of North America, Australia, and southern Africa. Plants are erect to ascending, 15-60 cm tall, with usually several slender culms emerging from a fibrous root system; the lower leaf sheaths are softly pubescent. Leaf blades are flat, 2-5 mm wide and 5-15 cm long, with sparsely hairy surfaces and a short truncate ligule about 2 mm long. The inflorescence is a stiffly erect, narrowly oblong panicle 4-12 cm long, with short upward-pointing branches bearing several wedge-shaped spikelets 3-5 cm long (including awns). Each spikelet contains 6-12 lanceolate florets; the lemmas are 12-18 mm long, lanceolate, glabrous, and tipped with a slender straight awn 12-22 mm long that becomes purplish at maturity. Flowering takes place from late spring into summer. The species inhabits dry sandy or stony soils, fallow fields, roadside verges, and disturbed open ground at low to moderate elevations.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azores, Baleares, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, France, Greece, Gulf States, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
225989

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.