Shivery Grass - introduced (*Briza minor)

Native to southern Europe and western Asia. Annual. C3.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Other names: Small Quaking Grass.

Identification:

• it has an open loose flower cluster
• the glumes are shorter than the spikelets
• the spikelets have 3-8 florets
• the leaves are flat
• the ligules are 2-10mm long, membranous and blunt.

Generally uncommon in forests and grassland. It is similar to the much more common Shell Grass. It differs in the smaller spikelets which are 2-5mm long. Each spikelet has fewer (3-8) florets, and the spikelets are often erect or almost so (distinguishing it from Shell Grass which has nodding spikelets).

It is an environmental weed.

Briza: a kind of rye; minor: smaller, lesser.

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