Bromus sp.
Brome, chess, Chess
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Bromus sp. (Brome) is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Bromus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Bromus sp. belong to?
Bromus sp. is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.