Bromus pseudolaevipes
Woodland brome
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Bromus pseudolaevipes (Woodland brome) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by habitat preference and short awns.
Woodland brome is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, high Cascade Range, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in shaded or semi-shaded chaparral, coastal-sage scrub, and open woodland at elevations of 100 to 900 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces green-tinged spikelets 15 to 35 millimeters long with delicate, spreading branches. Growing with robust stems 60 to 125 centimeters tall, it has an upright to spreading growth habit with erect to spreading inflorescence branches. Its leaves are 2 to 9 millimeters wide, varying from glabrous to hairy along the margins, with a tiny ligule measuring 0.4 to 1 millimeter long. The lemmas are 10 to 12.5 millimeters long, with a softly rounded back and short awns 2 to 5.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; distinguished by habitat preference and short awns
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded or semi-shaded sites in chaparral, coastal-sage scrub, open woodland
Elevation: 100-900 m
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Bromus pseudolaevipes blooms Apr-Jul.
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 pseudolaevipes native to California?
Yes. Bromus pseudolaevipes is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bromus pseudolaevipes bloom?
Bromus pseudolaevipes blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Bromus pseudolaevipes belong to?
Bromus pseudolaevipes is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus pseudolaevipes grow in?
Bromus pseudolaevipes grows in Shaded or semi-shaded sites in chaparral, coastal-sage scrub, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.