Melica stricta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 15–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; scaberulous; glabrous on surface to pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets deflexed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 12–16 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume elliptic; 10–14 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 10–14 mm long; 1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–10 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; ovate; 1 mm long.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Man US Gr 1994.

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