|
Wildflowers Found in Oregon False Brome Brachypodium sylvaticum - False Brome is a perennial bunchgrass native to North Africa and Eurasia, and has recently been reported as rapidly invading coniferous forest understories in western Oregon. Occasionally cultivated for ornamental purposes, it was first collected as an escaped invader in North America near Eugene, Oregon in 1939. By 1966, it was well-established in two large colonies near Corvallis, Oregon and since then has been quickly increasing in cover and range. It is now spreading into closed-canopy coniferous forests, riparian forests, forest edges, and upland prairies in full sun in Oregon's Willamette Valley and into the Cascade foothills. It has the potential to spread throughout low elevation forests in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia), and could spread into northern California too. It is a caespitose (tufted) perennial grass that typically grows 5 to 7 m tall. It tends to form large clumps or bunches, but is apparently not rhizomatous. The hollow culms (stems) are pilose (i.e. bearing soft, spreading hairs) at the nodes and sometimes over the lower internodes. Its broad flat leaves are 4 to 10 mm wide, pilose, open-sheathed at the base, and do not have auricles. On to Next Wildflower |
|
False Brome Description
Perennial grass; forms short "squatty" bunches. Stems hollow with broad, flat
one quarter to one third inch wide lax leaves and a leaf sheath open to the
base. Leaf color a bright green that often remains through fall and part of
winter. Leaf margins and lower stems hairy; ligules membranous. Flowers born
in a true spike that droops noticeably, and spikelets with short or no stalks.
False brome plants appear to be self-fertile producing few to a couple hundred
seeds per plant. Isolated plants are observed to produce viable seeds and
become new weed epicenters complicating control efforts. Seed movement by
wildlife is locally important with both birds and small mammals transporting
seeds. Deer and elk also are important vectors of localized spread.
Long-distance dispersal is predominantly through logging activities, roadside
maintenance equipment and recreational activities within infested areas.
Impacts False brome can quickly become the dominant plant species in forest understories, demonstrating great shade and drought tolerance. It is able to grow in a wide variety of habitats and competes strongly for early season moisture. Its presence in commercial timberlands creates a perfect environment for rodents which damage tree seedlings. It can dominate oak savannah habitats and can be expected to severely restrict native oak regeneration. This weedy grass is also a serious threat to natural areas. There is concern from naturalists and native plant enthusiasts because of the ecological impacts brought on by brome invasion. The economic impact has received less attention and has been limited to private timberlands. Many acres of private timberland receive initial herbicide treatments to remove grass and other vegetation regardless if they are brome infested or not, therefore, no additional costs are attributed to false brome. The same cannot be said of public lands and it is on these where the greatest potential for economic harm exists. A secondary economic concern may involve false brome toxicity to livestock. The endophyte fungus Epichloe sylvatica has been identified in North American false brome populations. Existence of endophyte fungi in forage grasses has been linked to negative health effects in sheep and other livestock. Currently, no false brome pastures have been identified in Oregon but the threat may increase in the future. Land managers in the Pacific Northwest should be on the lookout for this invasive plant and be aware of its aggressive potential. Hi-Res Pic (316K) Hi-Res Pic Seeds (96K) Back to Thumb Page 10 Return to Wildflower Alpha List - Page 1 |
|