Melica penicillaris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 3–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 30–90 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 8–22 cm long; 1.5–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2(–4) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 9–13 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 6–9 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 8–12 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy on veins. Lemma hairs white, or yellow. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate; 2 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Turk 1993.

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