Barren brome

Bromus sterilis

Family: Poaceae Genus: Bromus Species: sterilis

Synonyms: Bromus distichus, Bromus sterilis var. purpureus, Zerna sterilis, Bromus sterilis var. viridis, Bromus delicatulus, Bromus sterilis var. pubescens, Bromus amplus, Forasaccus distichus, Bromus sterilis var. stenanthus, Anisantha sterilis var. sicula, Bromus sterilis f. glaberrimus, Bromus scaberrimus, Anisantha sterilis var. velutina, Bromus sterilis var. velutinus, Bromus sterilis var. lanuginosus, Schedonorus sterilis, Bromus sterilis var. scaberrimus, Bromus jubatus, Bromus tenoreanus, Genea sterilis, Bromus sterilis var. arrectus, Bromus longe-aristatus, Bromus sterilis var. humilis, Bromus sterilis var. siculus, Bromus sterilis f. nanus, Bromus sterilis f. hirsutior, Bromus sterilis var. glabrescens, Bromus sterilis f. pilosus, Bromus sterilis var. validus, Anisantha sterilis var. stenantha, Bromus sterilis var. oligostachyus, Festuca sterilis, Anisantha sterilis, Bromus sterilis var. jubatus, Bromus sterilis var. trichanthus, Bromus grandiflorus, Bromus sterilis var. typicus, Bromus sterilis var. intermedius

Barren brome (en)

Gallery

Botanical Description

Bromus sterilis, the barren or poverty brome, is a loosely tufted winter annual or biennial grass 20 to 90 cm tall, with slender, erect to slightly nodding stems. The soft, flat, slightly hairy leaf blades have rough margins and bear loose sheaths. Its most distinctive feature is the open, drooping, one-sided panicle of large, slender, wedge-shaped spikelets borne on long, fine, spreading branches; each spikelet tapers upward and bears conspicuous long, straight awns, giving the whole head a shaggy, nodding appearance that turns straw-coloured at maturity. Native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia and naturalized widely elsewhere, it is a common weed of hedgerows, roadsides, waste ground, field margins, and disturbed soils.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

226054

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.

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