bromegrass (bromgras)

NL. Bromus, + gra .] A common name for gra es of the genus Bromus, of which there are about 40 species widely distributed, chiefly through the northern temperate zone. They are nearly allied to the fescue-gra es ( Festuca ), but are mostly coarse, and of comparatively little value. Che or (B. secalinus) and Schrader's brome-gra ( B. unioloides ) have been cultivated as annual forage-gra es. Also, corruptly, broom -gra . Bromelia (brō-mē'li-a), n. [NL., named for Olaf Bromel, a Swedish botanist (1639-1705).] A genus of American tropical plants, of the natural order Bromeliaceæ, including four or five species having rigid, spiny-margined leaves closely packed upon a short stem. The wild pineapple ( B. Pinguin ) is often used as a hedge-plant, and yields what is known as pinguin fiber. The istle-gra of Mexico ( B. sylvestris ) produces an excellent fiber.