Melica canariensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 80–100 cm long; wiry, or woody. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; entire, or lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–17 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 9–21 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; ciliate; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 5–5.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein extending to apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5.5–6 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins all falling short of apex. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein extending to apex. Lemma lateral veins stopping well short of apex. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 3–4 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; oblong; 2–2.5 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: Macaronesia.

NOTES Meliceae. Hempel 1997.

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