Ripgut Brome

Bromus rigidus

Physical Characteristics

Bromus rigidus is a ANNUAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind, Cleistogomy (self-pollinating without flowers ever opening). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Distribution

Southern and western Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Seed[161, 177]. Used as a piñole, or dried and then ground into a powder and mixed with water to make a gruel[257]. The seed is small and would be rather fiddly to use[K]. Ripgut brome is a European species that spread widely across California and the arid Southwest, where it quickly became a common grass of disturbed soils and open rangelands. Despite its sharp, bristly awns that can injure livestock and pets, it was adopted as a traditional grain resource by Native groups, including the Karok, Luiseño, and Miwok Indians of California [2-3]. The seeds were gathered and prepared into mush, much like other wild grasses. Flowering occurs from April to June, with seeds maturing from June through August. While edible, the small grains require careful processing to separate them from the husks and awns, which are not only tough but can also irritate the mouth or digestive tract if not properly removed [2-3]. Caution: The long, barbed awns that give ripgut brome its name pose risks to animals and humans. Foragers must take care to process only the cleaned grains [2-3].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

The long, barbed awns that give ripgut brome its name pose risks to animals and humans. Foragers must take care to process only the cleaned grains.