Bromus caroli-henrici
Weedy brome
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Bromus caroli-henrici (Weedy brome) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by geographic restriction and awn position diagnostic.
Weedy brome is a naturalized annual grass found in the Sacramento Valley in Butte and Yolo counties in open, disturbed places at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to November, this plant produces green-tinged spikelets with erect branches in dense inflorescences 4 to 10 centimeters long. Growing 15 to 45 centimeters tall with upright stems, it develops quickly in disturbed environments. Its leaves are hairy with narrow blades 1 to 4 millimeters wide and very short ligules less than 1 millimeter long. The spikelets are notably large, measuring 25 to 45 millimeters in length with bent awns 10 to 18 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; geographic restriction and awn position diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed places
Elevation: < 100 m
California counties: Butte, Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, Colusa
Outside California: native to Mediterranean Europe
Bloom period
Bromus caroli-henrici blooms Apr-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Nassella: Bromus has closed leaf sheaths and large spikelets; Nassella has open sheaths and needle-like awns.; vs Hordeum: Bromus has separate large spikelets; Hordeum has three spikelets grouped at each node.; vs Avena: Bromus lemmas have two teeth at tip; Avena lemmas have a twisted awn from the back.; vs Lolium: Bromus spikelets are stalked in clusters; Lolium spikelets sit edgewise against the stem.; vs Festuca: Bromus leaf sheaths are closed; Festuca sheaths split open halfway down.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bromus caroli-henrici native to California?
No. Bromus caroli-henrici is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Bromus caroli-henrici bloom?
Bromus caroli-henrici blooms Apr-Nov.
Where in California does Bromus caroli-henrici grow?
Bromus caroli-henrici occurs in Butte, Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, Colusa, at elevations of < 100 m.
What plant family does Bromus caroli-henrici belong to?
Bromus caroli-henrici is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus caroli-henrici grow in?
Bromus caroli-henrici grows in Open, disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.