Melica geyeri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 70–180 cm long; swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3.5 mm long; erose; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–25 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma apex entire, or erose; obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 5 mm long.

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