Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray
barren fescue (brome fescue)
Poaceae (Grass family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Adolf Ceska     (Photo ID #21263)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Vulpia bromoides
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual, loosely tufted grass from fibrous roots; stems sometimes solitary, erect (sometimes bent or angled at the lower nodes), 5-30 (55) cm tall.
Leaves:
Sheaths smooth or short-hairy; blades usually in-rolled (sometimes flat), smooth or short-hairy, up to 1.5 mm wide; ligules 0.2-0.6 mm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an erect panicle, 2-8 (15) cm long, contracted when mature, the lower branches (and spikelet stalks) erect or appressed; spikelets 5-10 mm long (excluding the awns), (3-) 4- to 6- (8-) flowered, the florets loosely overlapping; glumes smooth, the lower glumes 1-nerved, 3.5-5 (7) mm long, the upper glumes 3-nerved, 4.5-7 (8) mm long; lemmas smooth or short-hairy, lanceolate, 5.5-7.5 (8) mm long, the terminal awns (3) 5-12 (15) mm long; rachilla internodes about 1 mm long; anthers usually 1 (rarely 2 or 3), 0.3-0.5 (2) mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Vulpia bromoides

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
180 1 869
Slope Gradient (%)
34 0 105

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

176 23 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 0 6
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
92
Modal BEC Zone Class
CDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BG(10), CDF(37), CWH(3), PP(1)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry outcrops, bluffs, open forests, roadsides and disturbed areas in the lowland zone; common in SW BC, rare in SC BC; introduced from Europe, W Asia and N Africa.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Bromus dertonensis All.
Festuca bromoides L.
Festuca dertonensis (All.) Asch. & Graebn.
Vulpia dertonensis (All.) Gola