Melica picta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–16 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 6–12 cm long. Panicle branches bearing distant spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; grey, or red; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 7 mm long; 0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey, or red; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–9 mm long; chartaceous; shiny; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern, central, southeastern, and eastern. 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.