Melica rectiflora

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 20–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; scaberulous; glabrous on surface, or pilose; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 6–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; straight; 0.25–0.9 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 3–6 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 4–7 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels thickened; winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Palea apex entire; obtuse. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; oblong; 2–3 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.5–2.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 3.5 mm long. Embryo 0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Eur 1994.

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