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Smooth brome, Bromus inermis, was introduced to Canada from Eurasia with early European settlers in the 1800s.
Smooth brome has been used for forage for farm animals, and for erosion control along roadsides.
Brome has spread out of these fields and ditches, and is invading native rough fescue grasslands in Alberta and other prairie provinces.
Brome is not yet considered an invasive species, because of its uses for forage and erosion control. Due to this, there is little government effort to control it.
Although it is not considered an invasive, some sources acknowledge that it is “very competitive with desirable native species” (USU 2002).
Smooth brome has a very wide flat leaf when compared to rough fescue’s narrow rolled leaf, and its growth habit is spread out rather than in bunches.
Brome grows taller than most native grasses. Its top heavy panicle can cause the stem to droop to one side.
Figures 12 & 13 smooth brome diagrams
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