Meadow bromegrass

Plants of meadow bromegrass have many basal leaves, which, together with rapid recovery after grazing, make the grass useful for pasture. Regrowth rates are especially high in the initial stages of regrowth (0-20 days) compared to smooth bromegrass. In meadow bromegrass, regrowth comes from existing tiller bases; in smooth bromegrass, regrowth is initiated from crowns and rhizomes beneath the soil surface.
When cut or grazed frequently, the tillers in smooth bromegrass never attain rapid growth; in meadow bromegrass, rapid growth is readily achieved.
Meadow bromegrass has more uniform seasonal production than smooth bromegrass and is particularly superior in July and September. Leaves also have better frost resistance than those of smoothbromegrass, which makes the grass suitable for grazing until mid October providing moisture conditions are favorable.
Rhizomes of meadow bromegrass are much shortened compared to those of smooth bromegrass. Plant diameters for 1-year old plants at Saskatoon averaged 42 cm compared to 77 cm for smooth bromegrass.
Leaves of meadow bromegrass are narrower than those of smooth bromegrass and have pubescence or short hairs, particularly noticeable on the margins of leaves. Leaves also tend to droop, which can result in some loss from trampling by livestock. Stems and seeds also have varying degrees of pubescence. Seeds of meadow bromegrass have short awns 5-8 mm long whereas tip awns in smooth bromegrass do not exceed 2 may. Seeds of meadow bromegrass weigh 5.0 - 6.0 g per 1000 seeds compared to 3.0 - 4.0 g per 1000 for smooth bromegrass.
Meadow bromegrass has a chromosome number of 2n = 70 compared with 2n = 56 for smooth bromegrass. Both grasses are cross-pollinated but meadow bromegrass has shown more self-fertility than smooth bromegrass.
Meadow bromegrass is resistant to brown leaf-spot Pyrenophora bromi Died., which causes severe losses in smooth bromegrass, especially in old stands with a low fertility status.