Bromus rubens L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Poaceae

• Scientific Name

  Bromus rubens L.

• Description

  Species Description - Annual 1–5(–8) dm, with fine retrorse pubescence; blades narrow, 1.5–4(–5) mm wide, sometimes involute; ligule 1–2.5(–3) mm; infl contracted, ovoid, short, to 10 cm, often purplish, the short branches and pedicels stout, ascending; spikelets 18–25(–30) mm, 3–8(–10)-fld, scaberulous to finely hirsute; glumes subulate, the first (5–)6.5–10 mm, 1-veined, the second 9–13 mm, 3-veined; lemmas subulate, 12–17 mm, 0.5–1.2 mm wide in side-view, 3- or 5-veined, the slender apical teeth 4–5 mm; awns 12–20(–24) mm, straight or slightly arcuate-spreading; palea shorter than the lemma; anthers 0.4–1 mm; 2n=28. Native of the Mediterranean region, widely intr. as a weed in arid w. U.S., and casually adventive with us.

• Common Names

  foxtail-chess