Melica grandiflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 15–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.7 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; truncate. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades 4–20 cm long; 2–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–6 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 3–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6–8 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 oblong; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 4–6 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–7.5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea elliptic; 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels thickened; winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Palea apex entire; obtuse. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate; 2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.5–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east and China.

NOTES Meliceae. Zlaki 1997.

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