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| ## california brome {#california-brome .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Bromus carinatus* Hook. & Arn.                                       |
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| Plant Symbol = BRCA5                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center & California Plant
Materials Center

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.9180555555555556in"
height="3.877083333333333in"}

F. Ballerini 2008

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

##### Big brome, *Bromus carinatus* var. *californicus, Bromus carinatus* var. *hookerianus, Bromus laciniatus, Ceratochloa carinata*, keeled brome, mountain brome. {#big-brome-bromus-carinatus-var.-californicus-bromus-carinatus-var.-hookerianus-bromus-laciniatus-ceratochloa-carinata-keeled-brome-mountain-brome. .Header-3}

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Ethnobotanic:* The seeds of California brome were feared by the Native
Americans to be poisonous if swallowed. However, they were often dried
and ground into flour to make bread and other foods.

*Livestock:* California brome is an important forage species for
livestock throughout its growing season. It is sometimes planted as
pasture grass.

*Restoration:* California brome is a rapid establisher and has good soil
stabilizing capabilities. For these reasons, it is useful for
revegetation and erosion control in disturbed rangeland sites, spent oil
shale, coalmine spoils, heavy metal mine tailings, and roadsides. It is
best suited for side-slopes and back-slopes because it can withstand
periodic drought.

It is effective in improving water infiltration and has been used
successfully on waterfront sites.

*Wildlife:* Elk, grizzly bear, geese, squirrels, pocket gophers, and
other rodents consume California brome plants. Birds consume the seeds.
California brome also provides good cover for small mammals, small
non-game birds, and upland game birds.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

The Western Society of Weed Science has listed California brome as
having invasive characteristics. This plant may become weedy or invasive
in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation if not
properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS Field Office,
Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural resource or
agriculture department regarding its status and use. Weed information is
also available from the PLANTS Web site at plants.usda.gov.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Grass Family (Poaceae). California brome is a native,
cool-season perennial bunchgrass that lives 3 to 5 years and grows to be
60 to 120 cm tall. The roots of California brome are fibrous, grow very
quickly, and become deep and widespread. Young plants are erect, but
older stems grow along the ground with only the apical tips remaining
erect (decumbent). Stems are robust with hairy sheaths. Leaf blades are
0.5 to 1 cm wide and 15 to 30 cm long. They can be pubescent or
glabrous. The inflorescence is a stiff, open panicle, 10 to 20 cm long
and droops at maturity. The spikelets are 5 to 7 flowered, 2 to 4 cm
long, 5 to 7 mm wide and flattened. Lemmas are 1 to 1.5 cm long,
flattened, keeled and usually pubescent. The awns are 2 to 5 mm long.
Seeds mature in May and June at low elevations and by late August at
high elevations.

*Distribution*: California brome occurs from Alaska east to Ontario and
south to Illinois, Texas, California, and northern Mexico. It is native
from the Pacific Coast to the Rocky Mountains and is casually introduced
in the Great Plains. For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site
(http://plants.usda.gov).

*Habitat*: California brome grows in open woods and forests, shrublands,
grasslands, meadows, and waste places. It is closely associated with
pine dropseed, bracken fern, corn lily, dwarf purple monkey flower,
mountain muhly, and Rocky Mountain iris and shares dominance in plant
communities like coastal prairie and northern coastal scrub, sagebrush
steppes, aspen, oak woodland, and Douglas-fir.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

California brome grows well in a variety of soils including poorly
drained types. It is most abundant in moderately moist, well-developed,
deep, medium-textured soils. It tolerates soils in the pH range of 5.5
to 8.0. It occurs in bottomlands, mountain slopes, valleys, and ridge
tops, up to elevations of 4,000 m. It requires nearly full to full
sunlight.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Although fair control of California brome by trifluralin and pronomaide
has been documented, it does not respond to most herbicides.

It is reduced by heavy grazing and favored in moderate to light grazing.
Sheep are more likely to kill plants by trampling them rather than
overgrazing. Cattle are more likely to overgraze than trample the
plants.

California brome is top-killed by fire, but appears to recover within a
few years. It can sprout from surviving root crowns as early as the next
growing season. Coverage of California brome is slightly reduced from
pre-fire levels for several years after fire, then returns to pre-fire
levels. It is sometimes seeded in after fire to help stabilize soil.

**Pests and Potential Problems**

California brome is sometimes prone to stem rust, head smut, leaf rust,
and leaf spot.

**Seeds and Plant Production**

Seeds are collected between May 1 and September 10, depending on rate of
maturation. Mature inflorescences turn from green-purple to brown and
mature seeds are light brown-gray. Cleaning is not required for
germination. Seeds should be stored in a dry, evenly temperate
environment. Dry refrigeration is best for long term storage.

Seeds are surface sown, 3 seeds per container, and planted 2 times the
diameter of seed to depth. Sixty-five percent germination will occur
within 30 days and seedlings are transplanted into individual
containers.

Other sources state that 85% germination will occur in 13 days at
30^o^C, 83% in 13 days between 19^o^ and 23^o^C, and 46% in 21 days at
14^o^C. Natural seed stock will have higher germination rates than
commercial stock.

**Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)**

California brome seed is readily available from commercial sources.

['Southern Cal 1000' Germplasm]{.underline} California brome (*Bromus
carinatus*) was collected in 2006 in Orange County near Irvine Ranch at
1,000 feet elevation on silty clay soils in a purple needlegrass
community. It was selected from 28 accessions after a two-year field
trial evaluation. It is noted for its vigor, plant mass, and seed yield
amongst other southern California accessions within the trial. It is
recommended for use in southern California in MLRA 14d, 15d, 19 and 20.

['Central Coast 2600' Germplasm]{.underline} California brome (*Bromus
carinatus*) was collected in 2006 in a location east of Los Olivos,
California on Figueroa Mountain at 2,600 feet elevation on sandy clay
soils in a blue oak grassland community. It was selected from 28
accessions after a two-year field trial evaluation. It is noted for its
superior vigor, height, and seed yield. It is recommended for use in
MLRA 15d, 20, 22d, and 22e.

['Coastal 500' Germplasm]{.underline} California brome (*Bromus
carinatus*) was collected in 2006 in San Luis Obispo County near Cal
Poly Canyon at 500 feet elevation on sandy clay loam soils in a coast
live oak grassland community. It was selected from 28 accessions after a
two-year field trial evaluation. It is noted for its vigor, plant mass,
and seed yield. It is recommended for use in MLRA 4c, 14c, 14d, 15c, and
15d.

['Northern Cal 40' Germplasm]{.underline} California brome (*Bromus
carinatus*) was collected in 2006 near Point Pinole in Pinole,
California at 40 feet elevation on silty clay loam soils within an
annual grassland community. It was selected from 28 accessions after a
two-year field trial evaluation. It is noted for its superior vigor,
plant mass, early seed production, and seed yield amongst other coastal
accessions within the trial. It is recommended for use in MLRA 14c, 14d,
15c, 15d, 15e, 16e, 17d, 17e, and 18d.

##### ['Central Sierra 3200' Germplasm]{.underline} California brome (*Bromus carinatus*) was collected in 2006 in Yuba County at Pike County Peak at 3,200 feet elevation on silty clay soils within a pine and fir community. It was selected from 28 accessions after a two-year field trial evaluation. It is noted for its superior vigor, plant mass, and seed yield amongst other higher elevation accessions within the trial. It is recommended for use in MLRA 18d, 22c, and 22d.  {#central-sierra-3200-germplasm-california-brome-bromus-carinatus-was-collected-in-2006-in-yuba-county-at-pike-county-peak-at-3200-feet-elevation-on-silty-clay-soils-within-a-pine-and-fir-community.-it-was-selected-from-28-accessions-after-a-two-year-field-trial-evaluation.-it-is-noted-for-its-superior-vigor-plant-mass-and-seed-yield-amongst-other-higher-elevation-accessions-within-the-trial.-it-is-recommended-for-use-in-mlra-18d-22c-and-22d. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### 'Bromar' is recommended for revegetating high-elevation sites. It is resistant to stem rust, head smut, leaf rust, and leaf spot. {#bromar-is-recommended-for-revegetating-high-elevation-sites.-it-is-resistant-to-stem-rust-head-smut-leaf-rust-and-leaf-spot. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

'Cucamonga' is recommended for erosion control and ground cover on
droughty, low fertility grasslands. It can also be used for revegetation
of disturbed areas, and wildfire land rehabilitation It is susceptible
to head smut, which can be controlled with a mercuric fungicide. This
cultivar was collected from a native stand near Cucamonga, California in
1939.

#####  'Luval' is a drought resistant cultivar. {#luval-is-a-drought-resistant-cultivar. .Header-3}

##### Control {#control .Header-3}

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county
weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it
safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control
method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to
provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty
the products and control methods named, and other products may be
equally effective.

**References**

Agricultural Research Center. 2004. *GRIN taxonomy*
(http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/index, 2 July 2004). USDA,
Beltsville.

Harrison, S. 2000. *Rangeland ecosystems and plants*
(http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/classes/range/index.html, 2
July 2004). University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

Howard, J.L. 1997. *Bromus carinatus.*
(http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/, 2 July 2004). Rocky Mountain
Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Missoula.

Moerman, D. 2003. *Native American ethnobotany database*
(http://herb.umd.umich.edu, 2 July 2004). University of Michigan,
Dearborn.

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Pratt, M., J. Bowns, R. Banner, and A. Rasmussen. 2002. *Range plants of Utah* (http://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/index.htm, 2 July 2004). Utah State University Extension, Logan. {#pratt-m.-j.-bowns-r.-banner-and-a.-rasmussen.-2002.-range-plants-of-utah-httpextension.usu.edurangeplantsindex.htm-2-july-2004.-utah-state-university-extension-logan. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-4 .Header-3}

##### Wilson, M. 2004. *Bromus carinatus* (http://oregonstate.edu/\~wilsomar/Species/Brca.htm, 2 August 2004). Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis. {#wilson-m.-2004.-bromus-carinatus-httporegonstate.eduwilsomarspeciesbrca.htm-2-august-2004.-department-of-botany-and-plant-pathology-oregon-state-university-corvallis. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-5 .Header-3}

##### Young, B. 2001. *Propagation protocol for production of container Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn. Plants*. (http://www.native plantnetwork.org, 2 July 2004). College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow. {#young-b.-2001.-propagation-protocol-for-production-of-container-bromus-carinatus-hook.-arn.-plants.-httpwww.native-plantnetwork.org-2-july-2004.-college-of-natural-resources-university-of-idaho-moscow. .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### *Sarah Wennerberg*, previously USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana {#sarah-wennerberg-previously-usda-nrcs-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-louisiana .Header-3}

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*, USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana

##### Edited: 4Aug2004 sbw; 21Oct2004 rln; 27sep05 jsp; 25may06jsp; 01July08capmc; 080916jsp {#edited-4aug2004-sbw-21oct2004-rln-27sep05-jsp-25may06jsp-01july08capmc-080916jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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