Melica nitens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms 50–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–6 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 10–26 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–15 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; with lower wider than upper; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 5–7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 7–9 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets all similar in size (second overtopping first). Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–11 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma surface scabrous and striate; rugulose. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Rhachilla extension straight. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; oblong, or cuneate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Meliceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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