Bromus catharticus var. catharticus
Rescue grass
Photo: parent species Bromus catharticus · (c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Bromus catharticus var. catharticus (Rescue grass) is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family, recognized by short awns and prominent veining diagnostic.
Rescue grass is a naturalized non-native perennial found in California in open, disturbed places at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to November, this grass produces pale green to tan spikelets 15 to 30 millimeters long with delicate branching inflorescences. Growing with erect to ascending stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms dense, spreading clusters in disturbed landscapes. Its leaves are glabrous or sparingly hairy, with blades 2 to 9 millimeters wide and ligules 2 to 5 millimeters long. The spikelets feature prominent veined lemmas with short awns up to 3.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; short awns and prominent veining diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed places
Elevation: < 1500 m
Outside California: to eastern United States, Europe, Australia, Mexico, Central America, native to South America
Bloom period
Bromus catharticus var. catharticus 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 catharticus var. catharticus native to California?
No. Bromus catharticus var. catharticus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Bromus catharticus var. catharticus bloom?
Bromus catharticus var. catharticus blooms Apr-Nov.
What plant family does Bromus catharticus var. catharticus belong to?
Bromus catharticus var. catharticus is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus catharticus var. catharticus grow in?
Bromus catharticus var. catharticus grows in Open, disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.