# great brome (*Bromus diandrus*) Great brome is a tall grass that grows in fields and along roadsides. It has long, slender leaves and fluffy seed heads that dance in the wind, making it a fun sight to see! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![great brome](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bromusdiandrus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bromusdiandrus.jpg) ## Appearance The great brome is a tall, slender grass, often recognized by its drooping, open seed heads. These seed heads frequently develop a purplish or reddish hue as they mature, setting them apart from other green grasses. Each seed has a long, stiff bristle called an awn. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Bromus ## Interesting facts - Great brome seeds can stay hidden and alive in the soil for many years! - Its long, pointy awns can sometimes get stuck in animals' eyes or mouths! - Look closely at its seeds; they are very bristly, like tiny brushes! - This adaptable grass can grow in poor soils where many other plants struggle. ## Special abilities - **Hitchhiker Seeds:** Great brome has sharp, barbed awns that cling to fur or clothing, helping its seeds travel far. - **Rapid Colonizer:** Great brome can sprout quickly and grow fast, allowing it to take over new areas very effectively. - **Fire Fuel:** This grass dries out early in the season, creating a lot of dry material that can fuel wildfires. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring_summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — eats leaves and seeds - **Eaten by:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on young plants - **Eaten by:** [House mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — consumes its seeds - **Eats:** [Red-legged grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-legged-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus femurrubrum*) — feeds on the leaves ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths and be careful not to pull plants without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify great brome? Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is great brome? 30-90 cm ### When does great brome bloom? Spring_summer ### Is great brome edible? No ### Is great brome toxic? None ### What is great brome's lifecycle? Annual ### How is great brome pollinated? Wind ### Where is great brome usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Sonoma Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sonoma-plaza) — California, US · Park - [Descanso Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/descanso-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Mauna Kea Ice Age Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mauna-kea-ice-age-reserve) — Hawaii, US · Nature Reserve - [Point San Luis Light](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-san-luis-light) — California, US · Historic District - [Sam Smith Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sam-smith-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see great brome](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-brome) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Great Brome: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-brome)