Melica californica

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths herbaceous; not bulbous, or thickened and forming a bulb (slightly); persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms decumbent; 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 5–6 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; light brown, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 7–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; light brown, or purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea elliptic; 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate; 1.5 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Man US Gr 1993.

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