Melica minor

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–20 cm long; 0.75–1 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; glabrous on surface. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 9 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 4–8 cm long. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 3.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 4 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; cuneate. Apical sterile lemmas truncate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Meliceae. Papp 1994.

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