Many ago, Briza maxima,
an annual introduced from Europe, grew wild, making significantly
large communities throughout western Japan. Leaves are 5-12cm in
length, 3-8mm in width, and linear-lanceolate shape. Inflorescences
are panicle-like; some to 20 spikelets set on tips of fine thready
pedicles hang down. Those spikelets are 1.4-2.2cm long, 0.8-1.3cm
wide, in the shape of a swollen ovate-oblong, at first light green,
becoming yellow-brown later. Bloom time: May-July. |