larger infestations.Cutlarger the PTIONS O P weed whip weed -U ACTORS or individual or small patches by patches small or plants individual F EY grass to about 2 inches, about grass to take you making sure off the bolting crown. Mowing is usually done fromlate March to earlyApril before seeds mature. hand in early spring before seeds are ripe.The seeds are before spring hand in early seeds are this is when time for optimum a milky still contain they while but hanging substance. Pull Mow High seed production. 5 years. to Seed up longevity REATMENT OLLOW u u F using success considerable report Practitioners and mechanicalmanual methods eradicate to ripgut brome, by infested previously sites but this grass vulnerable are species by to invasion K u u T WEED WORKERS’ HANDBOOK WEED WORKERS’ The slender stems can grow up to 30 to up can grow stems The slender ESCRIPTION EPRODUCTION MPACT drought.In addition,the long,stiffawns are long,stiffawns addition,the Dense stands of dead material make this summer during fire to prone very grass drought.In known to cause injuryto wildlife. Like many grasses, annual invasive prevents ripgut brome becoming from species perennial native reestablished. For example, oak for seedlings native research outcompetes it that indicates water stored in the soil by means of early germi- nation, of volume sheer numbers,roots. and deep I R seed by reproduces brome Ripgut only. The branched and often develops inflorescence drooping March–June, and consists of with stiff,spikelets 1 or 2 purple-tipped or reddish awns up to 2 inches long. Seed production is high, of capable with a single plant producing seeds. a thousand to up wind- usually Seeds are distances,but long and can travel they dispersed can also become attached to clothing. and November between occurs Germination April. 5 years. to up for Seeds can persist inches tall.inches leaf The flat up blades are wide, a quarter-inch to in covered fine hairs, on jagged and slightly margins.the of nodes swollen The ripgut distinguish stems the brome from the native purple needlegrass. has brome Ripgut roots. fibrous grasslands,and open,disturbed sites. D open,disturbed dunes, coastal infests frequently brome Ripgut grasslands,and diandrus Bromus Grass Family () RIPGUT BROME RIPGUT

ANNUAL GRASSES 104 such as annual fescue (Vulpia bromoides), a a milky substance. Alternatively, the grass can very dominant grass that goes to seed quickly. be composted. Therefore follow-up not only includes removing any overlooked seedlings but also checking for INTERESTING FACTS new . Ripgut brome is native to parts of Europe, including the Mediterranean, and is thought to DISPOSAL have become widely established in California as Pulled or cut vegetation can be piled on-site as early as the late 1800s. Cattle will eat the grass long as the seeds are still immature and produce early in the season when leaves are still tender.

Notes ANNUAL GRASSES

THE PLANTS: HOW TO REMOVE BAY AREA WEEDS 105