Briza maxima
(large quaking grass)

Preferred Scientific Name

• Briza maxima L.

Preferred Common Name

• large quaking grass

Other Scientific Names

• Briza dalmatica Gand.
• Briza gracilescens Gand.
• Briza microclada Gand.
• Briza monspessulana Gouan
• Briza montana Brouss.
• Briza portenschlagii Gand.
• Briza pulchella Kunth
• Briza pulchella Kunth ex Steud.
• Briza rubens Poir.
• Briza rubra Lam.
• Macrobriza maxima (L.) Tzvelev
• Poa maxima (L.) Cav.

International Common Names

• English: big quaking grass; blowfly grass; fairy bells; giant shivery grass; great quaking grass; greater quaking grass; lady's heart grass; large fairy bells; quaking grass; quivering grass; shaky grass; shell grass
• Spanish: corazón de Jesús; ilusión de corazon grande; pastito de Dios; tembladera; templacera; templaderilla; templeque; zarcillitos
• French: grande brize
• Chinese: da ling feng cao

Local Common Names

• Germany: grosses Zittergras
• Italy: sonaghini
• Japan: kobanso
• Netherlands: groot siddergras; groot trilgras
• South Africa: Bewertjies
• Sweden: italienskt darrgräs
• USA: rattlesnake grass

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Monocotyledonae
•                     Order: Cyperales
•                         Family: Poaceae
•                             Genus: Briza
•                                 Species: Briza maxima

Briza comprises about 23 species (Clayton et al, 2013), native to Europe, North Africa, Asia, and South America (some species have been carried to and become naturalised in other countries).

Two species besides B. maxima have become naturalised and to some extent invasive in many of the same countries. These are the perennial B. media and the annual B. minor, both of which have spikelets similar in appearance to those of B. maxima although they are much smaller.

The following description is slightly modified from Clayton et al. (2013):

Habit: Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or decumbent; 10–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

Inflorescence:  Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–12 fertile spikelets. Panicle open; obovate; 3–10 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Spikelets pendulous; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; recurved; 5–20 mm long.

Fertile Spikelets: Spikelets comprising 7–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; 14–25 mm long; 8–15 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

Glumes: Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

Florets: Fertile lemma orbicular; auriculate at base; gibbous; 6–8 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled below; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent; with capitate hairs. Lemma apex cuspidate. Palea orbicular; 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

Flower: Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

Fruit: Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.5 mm long. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis.

The species has been spread to many countries as a garden ornamental and its flowers have often been used in dried flower arrangements. It has escaped to become a common weed of waste places in, for example, Australia and parts of the USA (Cal-IPC, 2005; University of Queensland, 2013). Its seed is still widely available from sources advertised on the internet, especially in the USA and Britain.

Natural Dispersal (Non-Biotic)

Cal-IPC (2005) says that most seeds fall to the ground immediately beneath the plant. University of Queensland (2013) suggests that seeds can be dispersed by water or wind, or in mud attached to animals or vehicles.

Vector Transmission (Biotic)

Detrain and Pasteels (2000) found that the ant Messor barbarus sometimes favoured the seeds of B. maxima as a food source in south-east France, which means that ants may sometimes contribute to its spread but also reduce the amount of seed available for future germination and growth.

Accidental Introduction

Accidental introduction to new countries would be relatively unlikely, with modern phytosanitary regulations. However, escape from garden plantings or when dried flower displays are discarded could still occur.

University of Queensland (2013) says that seeds may be spread by mowers or slashers (of roadside vegetation) and that distant dispersal could result from movement of agricultural products such as hay or other fodder.

Intentional Introduction

B. maxima has already been introduced as an ornamental to many countries and this is likely to continue in countries where it has not yet naturalized, especially since its seeds are readily available through the internet.

The species is palatable to livestock so where it occurs in grazed pasture it is probably as valuable as other annual grass species in the same community. Many garden seed companies advertise B. maxima seed on their websites, so trade in this species appears to be flourishing.

In some areas of Japan, B. maxima competes with crop plants (NIES, 2013). In Spain it is a component of the weed flora in olive groves (Saavedra and Pastor, 1996).

Impact on Habitats

Cal-IPC (2005) indicates that the overall effect of B. maxima in California is ‘Limited’. Like most other annual grasses it can increase fire risk.

In Australia, University of Queensland (2013) reports that it is a significant environmental weed in Victoria and Western Australia and an environmental weed in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. It invades grasslands, grassy woodlands, heathlands, granite outcrops, open forests, riparian habitats and coastal habitats. Its dense swards impede the growth and regeneration of native plants and significantly decrease species richness. In the southern parts of Western Australia it is listed as a weed of wetlands and aquatic habitats. It is also present in conservation areas (e.g. Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary in suburban Melbourne) and rehabilitation areas (e.g. in box-ironbark forests in the goldfields region) in Victoria.

Impact on Biodiversity

University of Queensland (2013) states that: ‘The remnant plant communities that are home to the threatened Eltham copper butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida [also known as Paralucia aenea ssp. lucida]), which is found only in a few sites in Victoria, are under threat by invasion from environmental weeds including this species. B. maxima is also one of the weeds competing with sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa), the native food plant of this rare butterfly. It also thought to be reducing regeneration of the threatened whipstick westringia (Westringia crassifolia) in Victoria.’ McMahon (1991) comments that ‘When B. maxima cover is >10% it can cause approx. 75% reduction in the richness of native vegetation in Victoria.’

In some areas of Japan, B. maxima competes with native plants (NIES, 2013).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential
• Gregarious
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year

• Modification of fire regime
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of endangered species
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - shading

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

Economic Value

B. maxima is clearly of value in its native environment for grazing of cattle (Sanz et al., 2011). It also provides fodder for grazing animals where it has become naturalized in grazed grasslands in Australia and California. Many garden seed companies advertise B. maxima seed on their websites, so trade in this species, presumably for ornamental purposes, appears to be flourishing.

Social Benefit

Reports from several countries about the use of B. maxima as an attractive ornamental grass both in gardens and in dried flower arrangements presumably mean that it has given pleasure to householders and gardeners over the years (Hubbard, 1984; PIER, 2014; University of Queensland, 2013).