Bromus ciliatus
Fringed brome
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Bromus ciliatus (Fringed brome) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by marginal hairs on lemmas and high elevation habitat diagnostic.
Fringed brome is a California native perennial grass found in the Sierra Nevada, southern Sierra Nevada, San Bernardino Mountains, and northern White and Inyo Mountains in damp meadows, woodlands, thickets, and streambanks at elevations of 1,100 to 3,230 meters. Flowering from April to August, this grass produces delicate open branches with spreading to nodding spikelets 15 to 25 millimeters long. Growing 55 to 149 centimeters tall with hairy stems and nodes, it develops an open branching structure with spreading inflorescences. Its leaves are 4 to 12 millimeters wide, with upper stem blades that are hairy and a very short ligule measuring 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters. The lemmas are distinctive, with hairy margins along the lower half to three-quarters and small awns 2 to 6.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; marginal hairs on lemmas and high elevation habitat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Damp meadows, woodland, thickets, streambanks, roadsides
Elevation: 1100-3230 m
California counties: Fresno, Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Tulare, Tuolumne, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Nevada, Riverside, Madera, El Dorado, Alpine, Butte, Plumas, Yuba, Shasta, Placer, Lassen, Sierra, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Mariposa
Outside California: to Alaska, northeastern North America
Bloom period
Bromus ciliatus 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 ciliatus native to California?
Yes. Bromus ciliatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bromus ciliatus bloom?
Bromus ciliatus blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Bromus ciliatus grow?
Bromus ciliatus occurs in Fresno, Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Tulare, Tuolumne, Mendocino, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of 1100-3230 m.
What plant family does Bromus ciliatus belong to?
Bromus ciliatus is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus ciliatus grow in?
Bromus ciliatus grows in Damp meadows, woodland, thickets, streambanks, roadsides.
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.