Melica bulbosa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–60 cm long; swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–15(–24) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5–9 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–11 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 0.7–0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; elliptic; 5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Meliceae. WDC.

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