Bromus richardsonii
Richardson's brome, Richardson's Brome
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Bromus richardsonii (Richardson's brome) is a native California perennial in the Poaceae family, recognized by elevation and large spikelets with hairy lemma margins.
Richardson's brome is a California native perennial grass found in central Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, eastern Peninsular Ranges, and eastern Mojave Desert in meadows and open woodlands at elevations of 1,200 to 3,600 meters. Flowering from July to September, this grass produces pale green to tan spikelets 24 to 35 millimeters long in open branching clusters. Growing with tall stems 47 to 110 centimeters high, it develops erect to nodding branches with distinctively hairy lemmas. Its leaf blades are 3 to 9 millimeters wide, with basal leaf sheaths densely short- to medium-hairy while upper stem nodes remain generally glabrous. The plant's spikelets feature lemmas with margins hairy along the lower half to three-quarters and sporting short awns 3 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; elevation and large spikelets with hairy lemma margins are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, open woodland
Elevation: 1200-3600 m
Outside California: to Alaska, Wyoming, western Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Bromus richardsonii blooms Jul-Sep.
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 richardsonii native to California?
Yes. Bromus richardsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bromus richardsonii bloom?
Bromus richardsonii blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Bromus richardsonii belong to?
Bromus richardsonii is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus richardsonii grow in?
Bromus richardsonii grows in Meadows, open woodland.
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.