This species is treated as a var of Bromus carinatus (as Bromus carinatus marginatus (Nees ex Steud.) Barkworth & Anderton) in some recent works[K[.

Common Name: Mountain Brome

General Information

Bromus marginatus is an erect, clump-forming, often short-lived, perennial grass growing around 50cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

N. America - B. C. to Saskatchewan, south to California, New Mexico and Illinois. New York to Maine and New Jersey. C.America - Mexico to Costa Rica.

Habitat

Various habitats from moist woods to dry open meadows or sagebrush covered hills, sometimes to the timber line[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Bromus marginatus is a plant of the temperate zone, and is also cultivated into tropical regions. It is found at elevations up to 2, 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 10 - 21°c, but can tolerate 2 - 26°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 800mm, but tolerates 210 - 1,200mm[].
Species in this genus generally succeed in a sunny position in most well-drained soils[, ]. Plants are tolerant of moderate levels of salinity[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.6, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[].
The plant has potential as a perennial cereal[].
The seed is small but can be harvested 2 - 3 times a year if the plants are well grown and fertilized[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, , ]. Used as a piñole[, ]. The seed is heavy[]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Tied bunches of plants have been used as hair brushes and light brooms[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ and only just cover. Germination should take place within 2 weeks.
If seed is in short supply it can be surface sown in a cold frame in early spring. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.
Division in spring. Large clumps can be planted out direct into their permanent positions whilst it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are ready to be planted out.