Melica scaberrima

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; retrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface, or hispid. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–35 cm long; 3–5.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; effuse; 20–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or reflexed; distant; 6–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8.5–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–2.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 4.8–6.3 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 7–8.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pak 1993.

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