Bromus

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Bromus
Bromus pubescens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Clade: BOP clade
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Triticodae
Tribe: Bromeae
Dumort.
(1824)
Genus: Bromus
Scop.
Sections
Synonyms[1]
  • Anisantha K.Koch
  • Avenaria Heist. ex Fabr.
  • Bromopsis (Dumort.) Fourr.
  • Calliagrostis Ehrh.
  • Ceratochloa P.Beauv.
  • Euraphis (Trin.) Kuntze
  • Forasaccus Bubani
  • Genea (Dumort.) Dumort.
  • Michelaria Dumort.
  • Nevskiella V.I.Krecz. & Vved.
  • Serrafalcus Parl.
  • Stenofestuca (Honda) Nakai
  • Triniusa Steud.
  • Trisetobromus Nevski

Bromus is a large

grasses, classified in its own tribe Bromeae.[2][3]
They are commonly known as bromes, brome grasses, cheat grasses or chess grasses. Estimates in the scientific literature of the number of species have ranged from 100 to 400, but plant taxonomists currently recognize around 160–170 species.

Bromus is part of the cool-season grass lineage (subfamily Pooideae), which includes about 3300 species. Within Pooideae, Bromus is classified in tribe Bromeae (it is the only genus in the tribe). Bromus is closely related to the wheat-grass lineage (tribe Triticeae) that includes such economically important genera as

Triticum (wheat), Hordeum (barley) and Secale
(rye).

Etymology

The generic name Bromus is derived from the

4.137). The generic name comes from avēna, a native Latin word for "oats" or "wild oats".

Description

Bromus species occur in many habitats in

temperate regions of the world, including Africa, America, Australia and Eurasia. There are considerable morphological differences between some species, while the morphological differences between others (usually those species that are closely related) are subtle and difficult to distinguish. As such, the taxonomy
of the genus is complicated.

Bromus is distinguished from other grass genera by a combination of several

leaves can be hairless, sparsely hairy or hairy. The inflorescence is a dense or open panicle, usually drooping or nodding, sometimes spreading (as in Japanese brome
, B. japonicus).

Ecology

The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use Bromus as a foodplant, such as the chequered skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon).

Uses

Bromus species are generally considered to have little economic value to humans, at least in present times.

invasive weeds. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is a particularly troublesome weed across much of western North America (from southern British Columbia to California
.)

Taxonomy and systematics

Bromopsis
. Sections Bromus and Genea are native to the Old World (Eurasia), but many species are introduced into North America. Sections Bromopsis, Neobromus, and Ceratochloa have several native species in North America.

Selected species

Gallery

  • awnless brome (B. inermis) flowers
    awnless brome
    (B. inermis) flowers
  • Arctic brome B. kalmii
    Arctic brome
    B. kalmii
  • red brome B madritensis ssp. rubens
    red brome

    B madritensis ssp. rubens
  • Alaska brome B. rigidus
    Alaska brome

    B. rigidus
  • rye brome (B. secalinus) flowers
    rye brome
    (B. secalinus) flowers
  • barren brome B. sterilis
    barren brome

    B. sterilis

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bromus". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. ^ Watson L, Dallwitz MJ. (2008). "The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references". The Grass Genera of the World. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  3. ISSN 1674-4918. Open access icon
  4. .

External links

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