The large quaking grass

Large quacking grass (Briza maxima)

The flowers and seed heads of the large quaking grass look like small drooping Chinese lanterns attached to a slender stalk swinging to and fro in a gentle spring breeze. This species is an annual spring-flowering member of the grass family. It is found throughout the Mediterranean region and is cultivated in Britain, Australasia and many parts of the Unites States of America as a decorative garden plant and is often used in flower arrangements.

Known in Maltese as beżżulet il-qattusa, the large quaking grass is frequently found in garigue and other rocky areas such as maquis as well as along roadsides and in wasteland.

The grass family is a large successful plant family in which one finds many well known species such as rice, wheat and barley as well as the great reed, bamboo and a myriad of other species many of which are of economic importance.

Rice, wheat and maize provide more than half of all calories eaten by humans whilst another species, sugarcane, is the major source of sugar production. Of all crops 70% are grasses.

It is estimated that there are more than 10,000 species of grasses. Planted communities dominated by grasses are known as grasslands. Grasslands comprise about 20% of terrestrial habitats.

Grass blades grow at the base of the blade and not from elongated stem tips. This low growth point evolved in response to grazing animals and allows grasses to be grazed or mown regularly without severe damage to the plant. Without large grazers such as deer, elephants cattle and other livestock a clear-cut fire-destroyed areas would soon be colonized by grasses and if there is enough rain, tree-seedlings. 

The tree seedlings would eventually produce shade which kills most grasses. Large animals trample the seedlings, killing the trees. Grasses persist because their lack of woody stems helps them to resist the damage of trampling. 

This article was published in The Times on 6 May 2009