Brachypodium

Brachypodium Beauv.

(incl. Trachynia Link)

As here circumscribed (incl. Trachynia), Brachypodium is a genus of ca. 18 species. Most are native in Eurasia while three are endemic to Mexico. Two species are native in Belgium as well, Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) Beauv. and B. sylvaticum (Huds.) Beauv.

The only non-native species here concerned, Brachypodium distachyon, was long treated as a member of the monospecific genus Trachynia (T. distachya). However, recent molecular data have supported the inclusion of Trachynia in Brachypodium (Catalán & Olmstead 2000).

  • Plants annual. Stems rarely exceeding 30 cm. Spikelets laterally compressed. Anthers 0,5-1,1 mm long === Brachypodium distachyon
  • Plants perennial. Stems often exceeding 30 cm. Spikelets (sub-) terete, not compressed. Anthers 3-6 mm long (native) === B. pinnatum and B. sylvaticum

 


Selected literature:

Catalán P. & Olmstead R.G. (2000) Phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Brachypodium P. Beauv. (Poaceae) from combined sequences of chloroplast ndhF gene and nuclear ITS. Pl. Syst. Evol. 200: 1-19.

Hoste I., Verloove F., Nagels C., Andriessen L. & Lambinon J. (2009) De adventievenflora van in België ingevoerde mediterrane containerplanten. Dumortiera 97: 1-16.

Jansen P. (1951) Flora Neerlandica, deel 1, aflevering 2. KNBV, Amsterdam: 272 p.

Piep M.B. (2007) Brachypodium. In: Barkworth M.E. & al. (eds.), Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24: 187-192. Oxford University Press, New York-Oxford.

Schippmann U. (1991) Revision der europäischen Arten der Gattung Brachypodium Palisot de Beauvois (Poaceae). Boissiera 45: 1-249.

Smith P.M. (1980) Brachypodium. In: Tutin T.G. & al. (eds.), Flora Europaea, vol. 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 189-190.

Stace C. (2010) New flora of the British Isles, 3th ed.: XXXII + 1232 p. Cambridge University Press.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith