Melica kozlovii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 0.8–2.7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 6–16 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches bearing 1–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–6 mm long; pubescent; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6.8–8.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5.5–7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 7–8.2 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea elliptic; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Meliceae. Pl Cent Asia 1996.

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