Bromus suksdorfii
Suksdorf's brome
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Bromus suksdorfii (Suksdorf's brome) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by high elevation, narrow inflorescence, and glabrous condition.
Suksdorf's brome is a California native perennial grass found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in rocky slopes, meadows, and conifer forests at elevations of 1,250 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this grass produces delicate pale green to tan spikelets 15 to 30 millimeters long with slender awns. Growing with erect stems 45 to 95 centimeters tall, it forms dense tufted clumps in open mountain habitats. Its leaves are glabrous with narrow blades 4 to 11 millimeters wide and short ligules less than 2 millimeters long. The plant's narrow inflorescence is 6.5 to 13 centimeters long, with erect to ascending branches that create a compact, refined grass structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; high elevation, narrow inflorescence, and glabrous condition are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky slopes, meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 1250-3300 m
Outside California: to Washington
Bloom period
Bromus suksdorfii blooms Jun-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 suksdorfii native to California?
Yes. Bromus suksdorfii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bromus suksdorfii bloom?
Bromus suksdorfii blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Bromus suksdorfii belong to?
Bromus suksdorfii is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus suksdorfii grow in?
Bromus suksdorfii grows in Rocky slopes, meadows, conifer forest.
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.