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Bromus carinatus - Hook.&Arn.

Common Name Californian Brome
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Various habitats from moist woods to dry open meadows or sagebrush covered hills, sometimes to the timber line[60]. Found naturalized along the Thames at Kew and Oxford[17].
Range Western N. America - British Columbia to California and New Mexico. Naturalized in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Bromus carinatus Californian Brome


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Bromus carinatus Californian Brome
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bromus carinatus is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind, Cleistogomy (self-pollinating without flowers ever opening). The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Ceratochloa carinatus.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - cooked[161, 177]. Used as a piñole[183].The dried seed can be ground into a powder and mixed with water to make a mush or made into bread[257]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Used for control of erosion and revegetation of damaged land, as well as a highly palatable forage for livestock.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. A potential perennial cereal crop, it is able to survive summer droughts without needing irrigation[183]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.3 to 7.8. The plant has cleistogamous flowers - these do not open in the usual way but are self-pollinated by the plant. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in a sunny position in most well-drained soils[138, 200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ and only just cover. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. If seed is in short supply it can be surface sown in a cold frame in early spring. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. Division in spring. Large clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions whilst it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are ready to be planted out.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

California brome. Mountain brome.

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Alberta (south), British Columbia, Saskatchewan (south)), United States (Nebraska (west), North Dakota (southwest), South Dakota (west), Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas (west), Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja California (Norte), Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Chiapas, Ciudad de México, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Can become a noxious weed in agricultural settings.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bromus breviaristatusMountain BromePerennial0.8 -  LMHSNDM10 
Bromus inermisSmooth Brome, Pumpelly's bromePerennial1.2 3-7  LMHSNDM002
Bromus japonicusJapanese Chess, Field bromeAnnual/Biennial0.8 7-10  LMHSNDM10 
Bromus mangoMango, Mango bromeBiennial1.0 0-0  LMHSNM20 
Bromus marginatusMountain BromePerennial1.0 -  LMHSNDM101
Bromus ramosusHairy BromePerennial1.5 4-8  LMHSNDM01 
Bromus rigidusRipgut BromeAnnual1.0 6-9  LMHNDM10 
Bromus tectorumCheat Grass, Downy BromeAnnual1.0 7-10  LMHNDM111
Bromus thominiiSoft BromeBiennial0.8 3-7  LMHSNDM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Hook.&Arn.

Botanical References

60236

Links / References

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