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Bromus rigidus - Roth.

Common Name Ripgut Brome
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Waste places on sandy shores in the Channel Islands, a casual in other parts of Britain[17].
Range Southern and western Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Bromus rigidus Ripgut Brome


Robert Soreng @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Bromus rigidus Ripgut Brome
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 200. Washington, DC.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bromus rigidus is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from May to June. 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, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Anisantha rigidus. (Roth.)Hyl. B. diandrus. Roth.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed[161, 177]. Used as a piñole, or dried then ground into a powder and mixed with water to make a gruel[257]. The seed is small and would be rather fiddly to use[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

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in ordinary well-drained garden soil in a sunny position[138, 200]. The plant has cleistogamous flowers, these flowers do not open but produce seed by means of self-fertilization.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ and only just cover. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bromus breviaristatusMountain BromePerennial0.8 -  LMHSNDM10 
Bromus carinatusCalifornian BromeAnnual/Biennial0.8 4-8  LMHSNDM101
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 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.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Roth.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

T L C   Sat Feb 25 2006

ripgut grass== why do you think it has that name?? because IT IS HAZARDOUS TO ANIMALS AND HUMANS ALIKE THE AWNS PENETRATE FLESH AND CAN BE VERY INJURIOUS, EVEN FATAL

Jean Murray   Thu Jun 7 2007

Exactly how dangerous is Romus rigidus to horses? I have been searching the web for days, and get many conflicting reports. I need to know. I lost one horse to an unknown cause which resulted in annual (spring)bouts of severe diarhea that eventually killed him. I have another horse showing the same symptoms. I NEED TO KNOW!

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Subject : Bromus rigidus  
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