Israel native plants: Large Quaking-grass

Briza maxima, Large Quaking-grass,
Hebrew: זעזועית גדולה, Arabic: بريزة كبرى

Scientific name:   Briza maxima L.
Common name:   Large Quaking-grass
Hebrew name:   זעזועית גדולה
Arabic name:   بريزة كبرى
Family:   Graminea (Poaceae), Grass Family, משפחת הדגניים


Life form:   Annual
Stems:   Erect; to 60 cm tall
Leaves:   Alternate
Flowers:   Panicle; 3-12 spikelets; Green
Fruits / pods:   Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.5 mm long. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis
Flowering Period:   February, March, April, May
Habitat:   Batha, Phrygana
Distribution:   The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Ephemeral


Derivation of the botanical name:

Briza, Greek: a kind of grain.

maxima, superlative of magnus; large, great, high, extensive; largest.
The Hebrew name: זעזועית גדולה, zazo-it gedola , translation Large Quaking-grass.

  • The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.