# Smooth Brome (*Bromus inermis*) Smooth Brome is a tall, grassy plant that grows in fields and meadows. It has soft leaves and can sway gently in the wind, making it look like it's dancing! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Smooth Brome](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bromus_inermis_-_Berlin_Botanical_Garden_-_IMG_8552.JPG&width=800) Photo: Daderot, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bromus_inermis_-_Berlin_Botanical_Garden_-_IMG_8552.JPG) ## Appearance The Smooth Brome is a tall, slender grass with smooth, hairless stems and leaves. Its seed heads are open, branching panicles, often purplish when young, turning golden-brown. It lacks hairs on its leaf sheaths, distinguishing it from other brome grasses. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Bromus ## Interesting facts - Farmers often plant it to feed cows, horses, and other farm animals. - It can live for many years because it's a perennial grass! - Its name 'brome' comes from a Greek word meaning 'oats'! - Its roots can grow super deep, helping it find water far underground! ## Special abilities - **Rhizome Runner:** Smooth Brome can spread underground using special roots called rhizomes, helping it quickly colonize new areas. - **Drought Defender:** It has deep, robust roots that help it find water and survive even in dry conditions. - **Soil Stabilizer:** Smooth Brome's dense root system helps to hold soil in place, preventing erosion. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Common forage for livestock. - **Eaten by:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — Important pasture grass for horses. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Provides food for grazing wild animals. - **Shelter:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Dense growth provides cover for small mammals. - **Eats:** [Red-legged Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-legged-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus femurrubrum*) — Common insect herbivore. ## 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. - [Fiber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fiber): This human use trait identifies species that yield natural fibers, used by humans for textiles, rope, paper, and other manufactured goods. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [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 when exploring fields to protect plants and animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Smooth 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 Smooth Brome? 30-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Smooth Brome? 1.5-3 cm ### When does Smooth Brome bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Smooth Brome edible? No ### Is Smooth Brome toxic? None ### What is Smooth Brome's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Smooth Brome pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District - [Peebles Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peebles-island-state-park) — New York, US · State Park - [Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/piquette-avenue-industrial-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium) — Illinois, US · Aquarium - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium-illinois) — Illinois, US · Zoo [View all places to see Smooth Brome](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/smooth-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: [Smooth Brome: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smooth-brome)