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  3. Smooth Brome

Smooth Brome

Bromus inermis

Description 2

Smooth brome is an important agricultural plant. It is a primary component of most hay productions. It is a persistent, nutritious hardy species that spreads through creeping rhizomes and by seed. It is known to invade undisturbed sites. Its hardiness and ability to suppress all other species by forming a thick mat of rhizomes has made it desirable for highway reconstruction projects in the past. Though not considered noxious, this species limits habitat for native species.

Range in Yukon 3

Reported from every community except Old Crow; it is found along most Yukon highways and around old settlements far from roads or rivers.

Similar Species 3

Pumpelly’s brome (Bromus pumpellianus) is the native cousin of smooth brome, sometimes considered a subspecies. It has hairy ower bracts or seed casings (lemmas), unlike the hairless casings that give smooth brome its name. It is widespread throughout Yukon.

Ecological Impact 3

Smooth brome forms a dense sod that smothers and excludes native species decreasing natural biodiversity. Smooth brome inhibits natural succession.

Control 3

Once planted is dif cult to remove. Mechanical treatment or herbicides may be required.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Don Sutherland, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Don Sutherland
  2. Adapted by stephw782 from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromus_inermis
  3. (c) stephw782, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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