(Bromus tectorum)
Downy brome or Cheatgrass is an annual or winter annual, native to the Mediterranean region. Cheatgrass ranges in height from 2 to 36 inches. Each plant contains multiple stems that are erect in nature. The inflorescences are born and the end of the stems, and are multi-branched. They appear in a slender, dense, and usually drooping manner. At maturity, they appear greenish purple in color. The spikelets are slender, 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch long, and are nodding. The awns on the end of the spikelets are usually 3/8 to 5/8 of an inch long. The sheaths of the leaves are flat blades and densely covered in soft hairs. Cheatgrass reproduces solely by seed. The root system is fibrous and fleshy.
