Forage and Grain Crops

Agronomy 105's Weed ID

Smooth bromegrass

Smooth bromegrass is an important forage species that grows very well in association with alfalfa in permanent pastures.  It also grows very well along roadsides and other rough use areas.  
Smooth bromegrass forms rhizomes (underground stems that run parallel to the soil just below the soil surface) and thus spreads and forms a denser turf than many of the other grasses.  
The best identifying characteristic of this species is the "W" that is found imprinted at  about the center of the leaf blade.  

The seed of smooth bromegrass is easy to identify, it is large and chaffy and has the appearance of broken up straw.