Melica aristata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; erose; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades 2.5–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 10 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 12–13 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 11 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.1 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 6–10 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; linear; 4–5 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pac NW 1994.

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