Melica mutica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 45–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 4–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; indistinct the panicle almost racemose, or simple.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–11 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels. Upper glume oblong; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels.

FLORETS Fertile florets decreasing in size upwards (reaching same level). Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–10 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface scaberulous; rugulose. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; ciliolate; adorned above. Rhachilla extension straight. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; cuneate; 2 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas truncate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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