Melica bocquetii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades convolute; 11–12 cm long; 0.7–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3 -nate; 1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; scarious; without keels. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6.2 mm long; scarious; without keels. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy above. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface villous; hairy all along. Lemma hairs 3–3.5 mm long. Palea elliptic; 3.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; cuneate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern.

NOTES Meliceae. Talavera 2005.

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