This is a very common grass of the verges and wayside. It used to be classified as a Bromus hence the Brome in the English name. Not very long ago the taxonomists decided it was really an Anisantha. The long drooping awned flowering head gives this grass a distinctive look which allows easy identification usually. There are usually one or two sterile apical florets and all the seeds have a great affinity with piercing the wool of your socks from which they must be extracted by hand.

It is extremely common throughout England and Wales but the population density is not so great in Ireland or mid to northern Scotland.

Pensarn beach, Abergele 25th April 2005

Added on October 11th 2005, updated 9th July 2008, updated 27th Feb 2010, updated 24th August 2018