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Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P.Beauv.
False Brome

Reference
Ess.Agrostogr. 100,155 (1812)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Annual, grass-like or herb (with bent culms), 0.1-0.25 m high. Fl. green, Nov to Dec or Jan. Clayey loam.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 27 August 1999

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions
Fitzgerald, Geraldton Hills, Katanning, Lesueur Sandplain, Merredin, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Armadale, Cockburn, Cuballing, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Gingin, Gosnells, Greater Geraldton, Harvey, Kalamunda, Kojonup, Moora, Northam, Northampton, Pingelly, Plantagenet, Rockingham, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, South Perth, Swan, Toodyay, Victoria Plains, York.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

Alternative Names. Purple false brome.

General Biology. Growth form. Grass. Life form. Annual, caespitose. Reproduction. Largely seed, also stem and root fragments. Dispersal. Mammals, wind, vehicles, clothing. Photosynthetic Pathway. C3. Seedbank persistence. Short, less than one year. Fire response. Killed by fire.

Notes. Tolerant of a wide range of habitats. Found growing in sun or shade, in dry or moist areas. Can become dominant in understory vegetation, forming monospecific stands. May limit establishment of native species, and outcompete and completely exclude native herbs and grasses. Has the potential to change fire regimes and to impact riparian habitats. Has high growth rates and able to rapidly complete its life cycle. Certain biotypes have developed herbicide resistance.

Additional information. Origin. North Africa, Mediterranean, temperate and tropical Asia. History of use/introduction. Unknown. Similar exotic species. Bromus species.

Suggested method of management and control. Prevent seed set. Spray in winter with 1% glyphosate. 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          
Flowering               Y Y Y      
Fruiting                   U U U  
Herbicide Treatment             Y Y Y        

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References

  • Bakker, E.G., Montgomery, B., Nguyen, B., Eide, K., Chang, J., Mockler, T.C., Liston, A., Seabloom, W. & Borer, E.T. (2009) Strong population structure characterizes weediness gene evolution in the invasive grass Brachypodium distachyon. Molecular Ecology, 18: 2588-2601.
  • Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
  • Carr, G.W., Yugovic, J.V. & Robinson, K.E. (1992) Environmental weed invasions in Victoria. Department of Conservation and Environment, Melbourne.
  • Gressel, J. & Kleifield, Y. (1994) Can wild species become problem weeds because of herbicide resistance? Brachypodium distachyon: a case study. Crop Protection, 13 (8).
  • 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.
  • Johnson, J. (2004) Weed Alert Brachypodium sylvaticum (slender false brome) In Cal-IPC News. 11 (4) California Invasive Plant Council, California. URL: http://www.cal-ipc.org/resources/news/pdf/cal-ipc_news5111.pdf - Accessed October 2009.
  • Kaye, T. (2001) Brachypodium sylvaticum (Poaceae) in the Pacific Northwest. Botanical Electronic News. URL: http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/ben/ben277.html - Accessed October 2009.
  • Lapina, I., Carlson, M.L., Conn, J., Heys, J., Densmore, R., Riley, J. & Snyder, J.S. (2006) Weed Risk Assessment Form, Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) Beauv. University of Alaska Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer), Anchorage. URL: http://accs.uaa.alaska.edu/invasive-species/non-native-plant-species-list - Accessed July 2016.
  • Moore, C.B. & Moore, J.H. (2002) Herbiguide, the pesticide expert on a disk. Herbiguide, PO Box 44 Albany, Western Australia, 6330.
  • Tu, M. (2002) Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P. Beauv. (slender false-brome, falsebrome). TNC Invasive Species Initiative.
  • USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (2009) Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=7597 - Accessed October 2009.