Great quaking grass (Briza maxima, Sp. Pl.: 70 (1753))

Family: Poaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 70 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Briza

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Macaronesia to Medit.

Description

The great quaking grass, scientifically named Briza maxima, is a noteworthy plant that belongs to the Poaceae family. This exquisite species was first classified by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753, as indicated in the “Species Plantarum” (Sp. Pl.: 70).

The great quaking grass captures attention with its unique and graceful appearance. It bears delicate, heart-shaped spikelets that dangle from slender, wiry stems. These spikelets, which give the plant its common name, “quaking” grass, quiver elegantly even in the slightest breeze, creating a striking visual effect reminiscent of trembling.

Indigenous to regions extending from Macaronesia to the Mediterranean, Briza maxima thrives in a variety of habitats. It is commonly found gracing fields, meadows, and grasslands where it contributes significantly to the local biodiversity. The climate of these regions provides an ideal environment for the plant to flourish, taking advantage of the warm, temperate conditions.

This ornamental grass is not only admired for its visual appeal in natural landscapes but also frequently utilized in garden design and floral arrangements. Its distinctive look provides texture and movement, enhancing aesthetic compositions both in gardens and as part of dried flower decorations.

In summary, the great quaking grass, with its scientific designation Briza maxima, stands out in the botanical world. It enriches the flora of the Macaronesian and Mediterranean regions with its elegant spikelets and its gentle, quivering presence, making it a valuable component of natural and cultivated landscapes alike.

Common Names

Eng: big quakinggrass, greater quaking-grass, big quaking grass, blowfly grass, great quaking grass, greater quaking grass, large quaking grass, quaking grass, giant quaking grass
Deu: größtes zittergras
Dan: stor hjertegræs
Swe: italienskt darrgräs, jättedarrgräs
Por: treme-treme-graúdo
Ces: třeslice větší
Nld: groot trilgras
Fra: grande amourette, brize grande, brize à gros épillets, grande brize
Cym: crydwellt mawr, crydwellt mwyaf
En: Great quaking grass, Greater quaking grass, Large quaking grass, Big quaking grass, Blowfly grass, Quaking grass, Big quakinggrass, Giant quaking-grass, Greater quaking-grass, Giant Quaking Grass, Large Rattlesnake Grass
Ar: بريزة كبيرة
Be: Дрыжнік вялікі
Bg: Едра сълзица
Ca: Ballaruga, Bellugadís gros
Zh: Da ling feng cao, 大凌风草
Cs: Třeslice větší
Da: Stor hjertegræs
Nl: Groot trilgras
Et: Suur värihein
Fi: Isoräpelö
Fr: Grande brize, Grande amourette, Brize grande, Brize à gros épillets, Brize élevée
Gl: Tremedeira
De: Großes Zittergras, Größtes Zittergras
He: זעזועית גדולה
It: Sonaglini maggiori
Ml: ബ്രിസ മാക്സിമ
Pl: Drżączka większa
Pt: Bole-bole-maior, Treme-treme-graúdo
Ru: Трясунка большая
Es: Tembladera, Zarcillitos
Sv: Italienskt darrgräs, Jättedarrgräs
Tr: Büyük zembil otu
Cy: Crydwellt mawr, Crydwellt Mwyaf

Synonyms

• Briza major (C.Presl)
• Briza grandis (Salisb.)
• Briza dalmatica (Gand.)
• Macrobriza maxima ((L.) Tzvelev)
• Briza gracilescens (Gand.)
• Briza microclada (Gand.)
• Briza maxima var. hirsuta (Doum.)
• Briza maxima var. pubescens (Mutel)
• Briza pulchella (Kunth ex Steud.)
• Briza portenschlagii (Gand.)
• Briza maxima var. rubra ((Lam.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Briza rubens (Poir.)
• Briza maxima f. discolor (Maire & Weiller)
• Briza rubra (Lam.)
• Briza maxima f. concolor (Maire & Weiller)
• Briza maxima var. monspessulana ((Gouan) Steud.)
• Briza maxima f. unicolor (Maire & Weiller)
• Briza maxima f. rubra ((Lam.) Maire)
• Briza maxima var. fusca (Merino)
• Briza maxima var. glabriflora (Rohlena)
• Poa maxima ((L.) Cav.)
• Briza montana (Brouss.)
• Briza monspessulana (Gouan)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 6, 2020 by Lugifa Lugifa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Virginie PEYTAVI (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2018 by Francesc Riudavets (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2015 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Corbo More (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2019 by Maria Sara Maria Sara (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2020 by azidfrank (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2021 by jasper kooring (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2018 by Randy Huey (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Roberto Dessì (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Roberto Dessì (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2018 by Roberto Dessì (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by laurent boniface (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2017 by waness (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken May 26, 2021 by Patrice Nodet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 24, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Patrick LEBOULENGER (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Patrick LEBOULENGER (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2021 by Patrice Nodet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 3, 2017 by Antoine AFFOUARD (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 25, 2022 by Brigitte David-Le Coq (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2020 by Alejandro Cardesin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 26, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Emmanuel STRATMAINS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Bark

Taken Apr 26, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Emmanuel STRATMAINS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 26, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Emmanuel STRATMAINS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 21, 2016 by Tela Botanica − John DE VOS (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2702792)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:393293-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Briza maxima L.)

Specifications

Growth