Japanese name: コバンソウ（小判草） Scientific name:Briza maxima
[Overview]
An annual 30–60 cm tall, found in sunny places such as fields and roadsides.
The stem is erect.
The leaves are linear, 5–10 cm long and 0.3–0.8 cm wide, with rough margins.
A paniculate inflorescence with a drooping tip emerges at the top of the stem, and 5–15 spikelets hang down.
The spikelets are oval like an old oval gold coin (koban), 1–2 cm long and 1 cm wide, thick, pale green to yellowish brown, and glossy.
Each spikelet consists of about 10 florets.
[History]
It arrived in Japan in the Meiji period and has become naturalized in various places.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It grows well in any soil as long as the site is sunny.
Cultivation is easy.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
[Notes]
The name compares the spikelets to koban (oval gold coins).
