Bromus catharticus
(rescue grass)

Poaceae

 

Description:
Annuals or short-lived perennial herbs, 4.5-6 dm tall. Leaf blades 5-10 mm wide, minutely scabrous to puberulent. Inflorescence 12-30 cm long, usually paniculate, open, lower branches spreading, pedicels 5-20 mm long. Spikelet strongly compressed. Glumes dorsally keeled, usually minutely scabrous, lower one 8-11 mm long, usually 5-7-veined, upper one 9-12 mm long; florets 5-9; lemmas 10-12 mm long, minutely scabrous, awns 1-3 mm long.  Flowers Apr.

Distribution:
Santa Cruz, San Nicolas and San Clemente islands; throughout N. America and Europe; native of S. America.

 

Santa Cruz Island

Rare; disturbed sites; grasslands; ca. 100 ft (30 m).

1995(1)
Previously known from a single collection at Christy Ranch in April 1987.

2007(2)
NPS housing, Scorpion Canyon

 

 

Photos
Click on a picture for a larger image

Bromus catharticus growing on the mainland A close-up of the flowers

 

(1) Provided by "A Flora of Santa Cruz Island" Steve Junak et al. Copyright Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & California Native Plant Society 1995.
(2) Provided by Ken Owen, Channel Islands Restoration

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Last modified: January 30, 2006