Melica subflava

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–80 cm long; 2–4 mm diam.; 3–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; keeled; retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–22 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; secund; 6–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 8–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 6–8 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; scarious; yellow; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 7–11 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; yellow; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma obovate; 5.5–7 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; orbicular.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl China 2005.

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