Photo Credit: Nicole Kimmel, Alberta Agriculture & Forestry
Common Name: Japanese Brome Scientific Name: Bromus japonicus Habitat: grassland, disturbed areas Provincial Designation: Noxious Noxious weeds are plant species designated in the Alberta Weed Control Act. Noxious weeds must be controlled, meaning their growth or spread needs to be prevented. |
Origin
Japanese Brome originates from Pakistan, central Europe and Eastern Japan.
Legislated Because
Japanese Brome outcompetes native vegetation and can slow down succession on reclamation sites.
Description
This invasive grass can grow up to 90 cm. Japanese Brome flowers are drooping and one-sided. The awns are 8-10 mm long and are sometimes bent at full maturity (awns are the hair-like ends of the individual grass seeds).
The first glume has three 'nerves' - a glume is the leaf-like structure at the bottom of the seed heads. The grass is usually covered with hairs with the exception of the main stem within the panicle (the branching cluster of flowers).
Can Be Confused With
Downy Brome
Many native and ornamental grass species
Please keep your eyes out for it and report to invasiveweeds@edmonton.ca when in doubt.
Learn more about this species:
See Fact Sheets - Alberta Invasive Species Council