Scientific Name:
Briza media
Pronunciation:
BRY-zhuh MEE-dee-uh
Common Name:
quaking grass
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial, Poales (grass-like)
Key ID Features:
Clump forming grass spreading by rhizomes; leaves blades mostly 5-15cm long x 4-10mm wide; spikelets compressed, imbricate, in open panicles up to 1m tall, as the grains mature in purpish to tan hop-like clusters, they quiver with any slight breeze as they dangle on thin stems (rachillas).
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate, Low
Landscape Uses:
Fall interest, Group or mass planting, Mixed shrub border, Perennial border, Summer interest
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Bluish, Green
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Ciliate
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Purple
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul
Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (CGW) Community Garden West
- (GRB) GRass Bed
- (GRBW) GRass Bed West : q.2