Brachypodium is a genus of plants in the grass family, widespread across much of Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America.[5][6][7][8][9][10] The genus is classified in its own tribe Brachypodieae.[11]

Brachypodium
Brachypodium pinnatum[3]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Clade: BOP clade
Subfamily: Pooideae
Tribe: Brachypodieae
Harz (1880)
Genus: Brachypodium
P.Beauv. 1812 not Brid. 1826 (a bryophyte)
Type species
Brachypodium pinnatum
Synonyms[4]
  • Disticheia Ehrh.
  • Trachynia Link
  • Brevipodium Á.Löve & D.Löve

Flimsy upright stems form tussocks. Flowers appear in compact spike-like racemes with 5-25 flowers on each short-stalked spikelet in summer. Leaves are flat or curved.[12][13]

According to a study published in 2010, there is evidence of Brachypodium and cattail (Typha spp.) residues occurring on prehistoric human grinding tools dated 28,000 years ago from Bilancino in central Italy.[14] Another contemporaneously published study stated that the grain residues resemble Brachypodium, based on a comparison to two modern specimens: "Among these, the grains, which are slightly angular, with hardly visible centric, point-shaped hila and adequate dimensions (in the sample measuring 9–14 μm), appeared very similar to those of Brachypodium or related genera."[15]

Species[4][16]
formerly included[4]

numerous species once considered members of Brachypodium but now considered better suited to other genera: Agropyron Anthosachne Arundinella Brachyelytrum Brachysteleum Catapodium Cutandia Distichlis Elymus Festuca Festucopsis Lolium Micropyrum Poa Ptychomitrium Rostraria Triticum Vulpia

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ lectotype designated by Niles & Chase, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 24: 196 (1925)
  2. ^ Tropicos, Brachypodium P. Beauv.
  3. ^ painting by the Swedish botanist C. A. M. Lindman (1856–1928), taken from his book(s) Bilder ur Nordens Flora (first edition published 1901–1905, supplemented edition 1917–1926?).
  4. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. ^ Palisot de Beauvois, Ambroise Marie François Joseph. 1812. Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie 100-101 in Latin
  6. ^ Palisot de Beauvois, Ambroise Marie François Joseph. 1812. Essai d'une Nouvelle Agrostographie plante XIX (19), figure III (3 a-f) line drawings of Brachypodium pinnatum
  7. ^ Flora of China, Vol. 22 Page 368 短柄草族 duan bing cao zu Poaceae Tribe Brachypodieae
  8. ^ Flora of Pakistan, Brachypodium P. Beauv.
  9. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Brachypodium
  10. ^ Sanbi Red List of South African Plants
  11. ^ Soreng, Robert J.; Peterson, Paul M.; Romaschenko, Konstantin; Davidse, Gerrit; Teisher, Jordan K.; Clark, Lynn G.; Barberá, Patricia; Gillespie, Lynn J.; Zuloaga, Fernando O. (2017). "A worldwide phylogenetic classification of the Poaceae (Gramineae) II: An update and a comparison of two 2015 classifications". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 55 (4): 259–290. doi:10.1111/jse.12262. hdl:10261/240149. ISSN 1674-4918.  
  12. ^ Watson L, Dallwitz MJ. (2008). "The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references". The Grass Genera of the World. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  13. ^ Lord, Tony (2003) Flora : The Gardener's Bible : More than 20,000 garden plants from around the world. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36435-5
  14. ^ Callaway, Ewen (October 18, 2010). "Stone Age flour found across Europe". naturenews. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  15. ^ Revedin, Anna; et al. (November 2, 2010). "Thirty thousand-year-old evidence of plant food processing". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 107 (44): 18815–18819. Bibcode:2010PNAS..10718815R. doi:10.1073/pnas.1006993107. PMC 2973873. PMID 20956317.
  16. ^ The Plant List search for Brachypodium

External links edit