Melica paulsenii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms rambling; 200–300 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; retrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous (retrorsely); rough adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; oblong; 7–14 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; curved; scabrous; pubescent; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1(–2) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Rhachilla elongation 0.3–0.6 mm long; pilose. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein extending to apex. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 4–5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex emarginate, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1.6–2 mm wide; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 1–1.2 mm long. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse. Palea 3.5–4.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above; with 0.33 of their length adorned. Palea surface scabrous. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; elliptic; 1–2.5 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; 0.3 mm long; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2–2.5 mm long; dark brown. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Meliceae. Schick 1995.

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