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DESCRIPTION:
Soft brome, also called soft chess, is a widely distributed annual at low elevation areas in
California, especially in open, disturbed areas. Mature plants are distinguished by dense, soft
hairs on the sheaths. No auricles present. Membranous ligules. Compact spikelets form dense
flowering heads with awns about 0.25 to 0.5 inch long. Plants are 4 inches to more than 2 feet (10
to > 60 cm) tall. Seed germination starts in fall. Young plants grow rapidly with available
moisture and slow down through winter. Resuming rapid growth in spring, plants reach maturity in
early summer. Other common bromegrasses in California
agricultural situations include ripgut brome, which has long awns, and
rescuegrass, B. catharticus, which is awnless or has awns no larger than 0.12 inch.
Grass ID illustration.
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