Briza maxima
L.
Giant quaking grass
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(c) Murat Kurtel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Murat Kurtel
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(c) Tuero, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tuero
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(c) Elena López Valero, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Elena López Valero
Summary
Source: WikipediaBriza maxima is a species of the grass genus Briza. It is native to Northern Africa, Western Asia and Southern Europe and is cultivated or naturalised in the British Isles, the Azores, Australasia, the western United States, Central and South America, and Hawaii. This species has a large number of common names, including big quaking grass, great quaking grass, greater quaking-grass, large quaking grass, blowfly grass, rattlesnake grass, shelly grass, rattle grass, and shell grass. It grows to a height of 60 cm. Their spikelets resemble those of the unrelated species Bromus briziformis. The seeds and leaves are edible.
Description
An annual grass. It grows 60 cm high. The flowering stalk usually has 3-8 large spikelets. They droop at the tip.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The seeds are crushed and cooked for use in porridge and bread. The young flowering spikes are eaten raw as a snack.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are crushed and cooked and used in porridge and bread. The young flowering spikes are eaten raw as a snack.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. In Zimbabawe it grows between 1,600-1,710 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Brazil, Chile, China, East Africa, Europe, Mediterranean, North Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Uruguay, Zimbabwe,
Also Known As
Majkine suze, Pana de cuco, Pendientes, Velika migalica
References (2)
- Gonzalez, J. A., et al, 2011, The consumption of wild and semi-domesticated edible plants in the Arribes del Duero (Salamanca-Zamora, Spain): an ananalysis of traditional knowledge. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 58:991-1006
- Redzic, S. J., 2006, Wild Edible Plants and their Traditional Use in the Human Nutrition in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 45:189-232
