Drooping Brome (Anisanthus tectorum), fam. Poaceae.
Blooms in April with characteristic one-sided panicles.
The plant originates from South-East Europe, West and Central Asia, and the Mediterranean. In America, brome is used as a fodder plant, particularly appreciated for its early leaves regrowth in spring. However, the cattle grazing on brome-rich areas after seed ripening, or eating these seeds in hay, often injure themselves. Long and tough awns of the ripe seeds easily pierce the mucosa. Besides, dry brome plants significantly increase the fire hazard of natural pastures, since drooping brome catches fire very easily. This plant is also well-known as a nasty weed, particularly in wheat fields.