Briza mediaL. Perennial Quaking Grasses

Briza mediaL. - Perennial Quaking Grasses

Scientific Description:

Shortly rhizomatous perennial, with leafy vegetative shoots and dead brown persistent leaf sheaths at base. Stems (excl. inflorescence) 30−80 cm. Cauline leaves sparse, glabrous except for scabridulous margin. Panicle lax, rather strict, 4−20 cm, 2−3 × branched. Spikelets numerous, broadly ovate-orbicular, 4−7 mm long and broad. Glumes spreading horizontally, suborbicular when opened out, 2.5−3.5 mm, deeply concave with a hooded apex, 3−5-veined, lower glumes often purplish-grey. Florets 5−8. Lemmas similar to glumes but 7−9-veined, c. 4 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, glabrous, shortly notched.

 

Flowering time: May−August.

Habitat: Deciduous woodland (Quercus L., Carpinus L., Fagus L. etc.), damp slopes and marshy ground, rocky slopes on limestone, sandstone, etc., 40−2440 m.

 

Reference:

Davis PH (1985). Briza media L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 9: 516.

Public Description:

Briza media, known as “perennial quaking grasses”, is native to Türkiye, Europe and the Caucasus. It is a perennial herb and grows up to 80 cm in length. It blooms between May and August and is found in deciduous woodland (oak, beech, etc.), damp slopes and marshy ground, rocky slopes on limestone, and sandstone. The genus name is referred to as the “quaking grasses” due to this, the flowers and seedheads shake on its stalks. It is sometimes cultivated.

 

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/briza/media/ /,Accessed date: 15.03.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briza_media/ ,Accessed date: 15.03.2016.

Cabi E, Doğan M (2012). Briza L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 701.