Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus
Corn brome
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC0
Family: Poaceae · Type: Annual
Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus (Corn brome) is a California annual in the Poaceae family, recognized by one-sided inflorescence with wavy branches.
Corn brome is a naturalized annual grass found in open, disturbed areas and roadsides at elevations below 1,494 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces pale green to tan spikelets 14 to 35 millimeters long with delicate, wavy branches. Growing 10 to 43 centimeters tall with slender, upright stems, it has hairy leaf sheaths and blades 2.5 to 10 millimeters wide. Its leaves are characteristically hairy, with a tiny ligule measuring 0.5 to 2 millimeters long. The plant bears 7 to 18 florets with lemmas featuring slender awns 8 to 11.7 millimeters long, emerging just below the lemma tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; one-sided inflorescence with wavy branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed areas, roadsides
Elevation: < 1494 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, central North America, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus blooms 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
When does Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus bloom?
Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus blooms Jul.
What plant family does Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus belong to?
Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus grow in?
Bromus squarrosus var. squarrosus grows in Open, disturbed areas, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-17
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.