BROMEGRASS

any of approximately 100 annual and perennial species of weeds and forage grasses comprising the genus Bromus (family Poaceae), found in temperate and cool climates. These grasses have flat, thin leaves and open, spreading flower clusters that are erect or drooping. Most are 30 to 100 cm (12 to 40 inches) tall. More than 40 species are found in the United States; about half are native grasses. Rescue grass (B. catharticus), a winter annual introduced from South America into the United States as a forage and pasture grass, and smooth brome (B. inermis), a perennial native to Eurasia and introduced into the northern United States as a forage plant and soil binder, are the economically important bromegrasses. The common weed chess (B. secalinus), sometimes known as cheat, is found along roadsides and in grain fields. Downy brome or cheatgrass (B. tectorum), ripgut grass (B. diandrus), and foxtail brome (B. rubens) are dangerous to grazing animals; spines on their spikelets or bracts puncture the animals' eyes, mouths, and intestines, leading to infection and possible death.