Melica radula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–45 cm long; 1–2 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth, or retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–12 cm long; 0.8–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 6–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1 -nate; bearing 3–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (1–)2(–3) fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; light green; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume linear, or oblong; 4–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; light green; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous and tuberculate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; orbicular.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–2 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.