Briza media
This delightfully named grass is one of my very favourites, especially when it goes to seed. They remind me a little of little hanging oriental lanterns, and the dry whisper sound it makes as a breeze stirs the dry husks is quite magical.
A very distinctive perennial grass, the flowers in an open inflorescence and the dangling spikelets resembling miniature hops or cones held on wiry stalks. The leaves are pale green forming loose tufts. Height 40cm.
It flowers June to September, and it is found on dry grassland, usually on calcareous soils. A native species, widespread and locally common, scarce in northern Scotland.
Photographs of Quaking Grass (Briza media), taken August 2014 & 2016, East Cliff, Bournemouth, Dorset. © Pete Hillman 2014 – 2016. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Nikon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens.
Nature Journeys 