- Reference
- Symb.Bot. 2:22 (1791)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Alien to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Tufted annual or biennial, grass-like or herb, 0.3-1.2 m high. Fl. green-brown, Sep to Nov or Jan (occasionally). White sand.
Distribution
- IBRA Regions
- Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Nullarbor, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
- IBRA Subregions
- Dandaragan Plateau, Eastern Goldfield, Geraldton Hills, Katanning, Nullarbor Plain, Perth, Recherche, Southern Cross, Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
- Local Government Areas (LGAs)
- Albany, Bayswater, Bunbury, Busselton, Coolgardie, Denmark, Esperance, Gingin, Gosnells, Greater Geraldton, Harvey, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Nannup, Northam, Swan.
Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)
Alternative Names. Rescue grass.
General Biology. Growth form. Grass. Life form. Annual, caespitose. Reproduction. Seed. Dispersal. Contaminated pasture, animal fur. Photosynthetic Pathway. C3.
Notes. Weed of disturbed areas, roadsides, pastures and grasslands. Considerable variation is found between cultivars. Has longevity of 1-2 years. Able to recover from intensive grazing. Heat-tolerant and able to persistent in dry conditions. Requires highly fertile well-drained soils. Awns may penetrate skin of sheep and be a contaminant of wool.
Additional information. Origin. South America. History of use/introduction. Erosion control, animal fodder. Similar native species. Bromus arenarius.
Suggested method of management and control. Prevent seed set for 1-2 years. In degraded areas use 10 ml/10 L glyphosate on seedlings, young plants or when flowering. Alternatively spray plants at 3-5 leaf stage with Fusilade® Forte at 16 ml/10 L or 800 ml/ha (based on 500 L of water/ha) + wetting agent or for generic fluazifop-p (212g/L active ingredient) 10ml/10L or 500ml/ha + wetting agent. Repeat the following year if required. An early and late application may be required where two Bromus species are present. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Management Calendar
| Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Growth | O | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | O | |||||
| Germination | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Flowering | Y | Y | Y | O | |||||||||
| Fruiting | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||
| Optimum Treatment | Y | Y | Y | Y | O | O |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Botanic Gardens Trust (2009) Mt Annan Botanic Garden: Bromus catharticus. Department of Environment, Water and Climate Change NSW URL: http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/science/Research/Ecology_of_Cumberland_Plain_Woodland/woodland_plants/bromus_catharticus - Accessed December 2009.
- Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
- Hume, D.E. (1991) Leaf and tiller production of Prairie Grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and two Ryegrass (Lolium) species. Annals of Botany, 67: 111-121.
- Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
- Moore, J.H. & Wheeler, J. (2008) Southern weeds and their control. DAFWA Bulletin 4744.
- NSW Department of Primary Industries (2004) Prairie grass Bromus willdenowii. Series: Agnote DPI-286, Third edition. State of NSW URL: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/field/pastures-and-rangelands/species-varieties/factsheets/prairie-grass - Accessed December 2009.
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (2009) Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx - Accessed October 2009.