| Brachypodium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Brachypodium pinnatum[3] | |
Scientific 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 (abryophyte) |
| Type species | |
| Brachypodium pinnatum | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
| |
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]
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]
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
| Brachypodium |
|
|---|---|
| Brachypodieae |
|
