Melica amethystina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 4–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 8–10 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; oblong; 1.5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Eur 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.