Briza maxima 0
Author: Carl von Linné (1707-1778)Family: Poaceae Subfamily: Pooideae Tribe: Poeae
Genus: Briza
English name: Large quaking grass
Zone: Mediterranean
Description
Briza maxima is originated from the Mediterranean regions, but today it occurs in many parts of the world. In South Africa it is mainly restricted to the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. It is also found on the highlands of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Kenya.
Briza maxima Observed in United States of America by crothfels (license)
Botanical Description
This is a loosely tufted annual, 100-600mm high. The culms are erect, simple or branched. The leaf blade is 70-250 x 3-8mm.
The inflorescence is open, appearing secund. The branches are single or in fascicles of 2-4. There are 3-12 spikelets, solitary at apices of slender branches, prettily nodding. The spikelets are 8-25 x 8-15mm, longer than wide, 7-20-flowered. The glumes are green, brown or purple, 5-9-nerved. The lemma is obtuse, straw-colored, occasionally variegated with purple, sometimes minutely papillose and hairy. The anther is 1.0-1.5mm long. The caryopsis is 2.5 x 2.0mm.
The inflorescence is open, appearing secund. The branches are single or in fascicles of 2-4. There are 3-12 spikelets, solitary at apices of slender branches, prettily nodding. The spikelets are 8-25 x 8-15mm, longer than wide, 7-20-flowered. The glumes are green, brown or purple, 5-9-nerved. The lemma is obtuse, straw-colored, occasionally variegated with purple, sometimes minutely papillose and hairy. The anther is 1.0-1.5mm long. The caryopsis is 2.5 x 2.0mm.
Useful plant
It is an attractive grass that is often used in flower arrangements. It has little value as a grazing grass. It is a weed along roadsides, in gardens and orchards, but is easily controlled mechanically or chemically.
References
- Grasses in California, Beecher Crampton. 1974 pag. 62. ISBN
- Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa, Frits van Outdshoorn. 2012 pag. 134. ISBN
- Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses (Strelitzia 36), L Fish, AC Mashau, MJ Moeaha, MT Nembudani. 2016 pag. 139. ISBN
- Plant phenology, growth and nutritive quality of Briza maxima: Responses induced by enhanced ozone atmospheric levels and nitrogen enrichment, J. Sanz and V. Bermejo and R. Muntifering and I. González-Fernández and B.S. Gimeno and S. Elvira and R. Alonso. Environmental Pollution 2011 Vol. 159(2) pag. 423-430. DOI
References
- Grasses in California, Beecher Crampton. 1974 pag. 62. ISBN
- Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa, Frits van Outdshoorn. 2012 pag. 134. ISBN
- Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses (Strelitzia 36), L Fish, AC Mashau, MJ Moeaha, MT Nembudani. 2016 pag. 139. ISBN
- Plant phenology, growth and nutritive quality of Briza maxima: Responses induced by enhanced ozone atmospheric levels and nitrogen enrichment, J. Sanz and V. Bermejo and R. Muntifering and I. González-Fernández and B.S. Gimeno and S. Elvira and R. Alonso. Environmental Pollution 2011 Vol. 159(2) pag. 423-430. DOI
References for the genus
- A synopsis of Briza, Brizochloa, and Chascolytrum (Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae), Essi, Liliana and Longhi-Wagner, Hilda and Chies, Tatiana. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 2017 Vol. 102 pag. 466-519. DOI
- Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses (Strelitzia 36), L Fish, AC Mashau, MJ Moeaha, MT Nembudani. 2016 pag. 138. ISBN
- Identification Guide to Southern African Grasses (Strelitzia 36), L Fish, AC Mashau, MJ Moeaha, MT Nembudani. 2016 pag. 138. ISBN
General specifications
Annual or Biennial plant
Indigenous plant
Biological type: grass
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: dark green
Reproduction mode: hermaphrodite plant whoes flowers produce both male and female gametes
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 1,6ft x 0,9ft
Plant with a spacing of: 0,8ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: fast
Flowering time from March until June
Ripe fruits in June
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 20%Compost+40%Clay+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Grasses; forestry plate, 2L forestry pot, forest pot 3L, container 6L
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 500-1600mm
Draining soil: much
Member of the following Vegetation Map-units
Groupe : G497 Californian Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub.
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: dark green
Reproduction mode: hermaphrodite plant whoes flowers produce both male and female gametes
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 1,6ft x 0,9ft
Plant with a spacing of: 0,8ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: fast
Flowering time from March until June
Ripe fruits in June
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 20%Compost+40%Clay+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Grasses; forestry plate, 2L forestry pot, forest pot 3L, container 6L
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 500-1600mm
Draining soil: much
Member of the following Vegetation Map-units
Groupe : G497 Californian Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub.
Sowing instructions
SPRING Sow the seeds at 5mm depth in the Well Drained Seed Sowing Mix between 64-72°F. During germination keep the substrate moist and in daylight. The seeds germinate in 1-5 weeks.
The average seed weight is 328,9 per gram (0,00304g).
Germination references
- Germination of Briza maxima L. seeds: Effects of temperature, light, salinity and seed harvesting time, Tiziana Lombardi, T. Fochetti & Antonino Onnis. Seed Science and Technology 1998 Vol. 26 pag. 463-470. Address
The average seed weight is 328,9 per gram (0,00304g).
Germination references
- Germination of Briza maxima L. seeds: Effects of temperature, light, salinity and seed harvesting time, Tiziana Lombardi, T. Fochetti & Antonino Onnis. Seed Science and Technology 1998 Vol. 26 pag. 463-470. Address
Experiences in the garden
26-02-18A Obtaining 10 plants from nursery Margheriti (Cultivated from unknown origin)
28-08-20 3x Dead plant because of substrate problem: Ombr5d C6.
20-11-19 2x Dead plant because of heat and drought in summer: Gras1 C6.
27-08-18 5x Dead plant because of watering problem: Gramniée.
07-03-19B Obtaining seeds from seed provider Chiltern collected in '....'. Stock (Cultivated from unknown origin)
24-04-19 Sown seeds in a tray and germinated at 02-05-19, result: 4 units in Serre4.
Protocol: Spring 5mm Sowing mix+Sand 64-72°F Damp substrate+Light
. . . 2019B Production of 4 plants in our nursery (Cultivated from unknown origin)
25-08-20 4x Dead plant: End of life: Ombr2d C6.
. . . 2020A Collection of seeds in the garden collected at 02-06-20. Stock (Cultivated from unknown origin)
08-06-20 Sown 40 seeds in a seed plate F and germinated at 14-07-20, result: 19 units in Serre6.
Protocol: Spring 5mm Sowing mix+Sand 68-77°F Damp substrate+Light
08-04-21 Sown 80 seeds in a seed plate F and germinated at 21-04-21, result: 20 units in Serre6.
Protocol: Spring 6mm Sowing mix+Sand 64-72°F Damp substrate+Light
. . . 2020A Production of 19 plants in our nursery (Cultivated from unknown origin)
08-09-21 19x Dead plant: End of life: Serre6 F3.
. . . 2021A Production of 20 plants in our nursery (Cultivated from unknown origin)
08-09-21 20x Dead plant: End of life: Serre6 F3.
. . . 2025A Collection of seeds in the garden collected at 12-06-25. Stock (Cultivated from unknown origin) Index Seminum