Quaking-grass

Appearance

Grows to 40cm and flowers June to September in the UK. Characterised by fine stems and hops-shaped green and purple spikelets. Distinguished from the closely related Briza maxima by the size of the flower spikelets.

Naming

Common name includes quaking-grass, common quaking grass, cow-quake, didder, dithering-grass, dodder-grass, doddering dillies, doddle-grass, earthquakes, jiggle-joggles, jockey-grass, lady's-hair, maidenhair-grass, pearl grass, quakers, quakers-and-shakers, shaking-grass, tottergrass, wag-wantons.

Distribution

This grass species is common in England and Wales. It grows in dry calcareous grassland. Its seeds are consumed by many farmland birds.

Habitat

This grass species is common in England and Wales It grows in dry calcareous grassland. Its seeds are consumed by many farmland birds.