# Meadow Brome (*bromus commutatus*)

Meadow Brome is a grassy plant that grows in fields and meadows. Its soft blades sway gently in the breeze, making it a fun place for kids to explore!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** Meadows, grasslands, and open fields across North America.
- **Also known as:** Brome Grass, Bromus, Common Brome

![Meadow Brome](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Panicle_of_Bromus_commutatus.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Rosser1954 Roger Griffith, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panicle_of_Bromus_commutatus.JPG)

## Appearance

The Meadow Brome is a slender, upright grass with distinctive drooping, airy seed heads. Its flat, green leaves are often covered in fine hairs, giving it a noticeably fuzzy texture. The mature seed heads turn a unique purplish-brown hue.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Bromus

## Interesting facts

- Each drooping seed head can contain dozens of tiny seeds, ready to scatter and grow!
- Its scientific name, 'Bromus,' surprisingly comes from an ancient Greek word for oats!
- Meadow Brome seeds can lie dormant for years, patiently awaiting ideal growth conditions!
- This grass is often called 'Hairy Brome' by farmers due to its noticeably fuzzy leaves!

## Special abilities

- **Rapid Seed Scatter:** Meadow Brome can produce and easily disperse numerous seeds, helping it colonize new areas quickly and efficiently.
- **Soil Anchor:** Meadow Brome has a fibrous root system that firmly grips the soil, helping to prevent erosion and stabilize loose earth.
- **Habitat Resilience:** Meadow Brome can thrive in various soil types and disturbed habitats, helping it survive in many different environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and stems.
- **Eaten by:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — Rabbits munch on its fresh green shoots.
- **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Sparrows and other birds feed on its abundant seeds.
- **Eaten by:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Meadow voles forage on the leaves and seeds.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Meadow 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 Meadow Brome?

30-90 cm

### How wide does Meadow Brome spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Meadow Brome?

1.5-2.5 cm

### When does Meadow Brome bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is Meadow Brome edible?

No

### Is Meadow Brome toxic?

None

### What is Meadow Brome's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Maheras-Gentry Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maheras-gentry-park) — Michigan, US · Park

## 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*)

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Source: [Meadow Brome: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-brome)