Melica racemosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect; flat, or convolute; 4–30 cm long; 1.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 7–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 5–9(–11) mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4–8 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–9 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–8 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 2 mm long. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate. Apical sterile lemmas glabrous.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl S Afr 1993.

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