Melica schuetzeana

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 70–110 cm long; 1.2–2.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaves cauline; 8 per branch. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface; truncate. Leaf-blades 18–30 cm long; 3–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with 13–35 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 24 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle axis smooth, or scabrous. Panicle branches flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2.5–3.5 mm long; scabrous; ciliate; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–2.4 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–3.8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–5.2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5.5–5.8 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; purple; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex emarginate. Palea 4.4–4.8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea apex ciliate. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Meliceae. Hempel 1996.

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