Melica transsilvanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 40–90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; dense; 4–7 cm long; 1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 2–3 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 5–6 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, and China.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Iran 1993.

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