Bromus catharticus var. elatus
Chilean brome
Photo: parent species Bromus catharticus · (c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Bromus catharticus var. elatus (Chilean brome) is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family, recognized by coastal habitat and longer awns diagnostic.
Chilean brome is a naturalized perennial grass found in southern North Coast, southern North Coast Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada Foothills, deltaic Great Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and northern Channel Islands in disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces green to brown spikelets 15 to 25 millimeters long with prominent veins on the distal portion of the lemma. Growing with erect stems 30 to 110 centimeters tall, it forms dense, ascending to erect branching inflorescences 8 to 20 centimeters long. Its leaves are glabrous or hairy, with blades 3 to 10 millimeters wide and ligules 1 to 4 millimeters long. The spikelets feature lemmas with 6 to 12 millimeter awns and are generally hairy, especially toward the distal portion.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; coastal habitat and longer awns diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Solano, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Nevada, Napa, Lake, Humboldt, El Dorado, Amador, Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Ventura, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Mendocino, Fresno
Outside California: ballast in Oregon, presumed extirpated, New Zealand, native to South America
Bloom period
Bromus catharticus var. elatus blooms Apr-Aug.
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. elatus native to California?
No. Bromus catharticus var. elatus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Bromus catharticus var. elatus bloom?
Bromus catharticus var. elatus blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Bromus catharticus var. elatus grow?
Bromus catharticus var. elatus occurs in Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Solano, Santa Barbara, San Mateo, Nevada, Napa, Lake and other counties, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Bromus catharticus var. elatus belong to?
Bromus catharticus var. elatus is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus catharticus var. elatus grow in?
Bromus catharticus var. elatus grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.