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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Melica animarum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 25 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.8 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades (5–)9–10 cm long; 2–2.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–10 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; 5 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; curved; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets obovate; laterally compressed; 6–7.7 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 6–7.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Lower glume apex erose. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex emarginate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.8–6 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; without keel. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins pilose. Lemma hairs 1–1.2 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid. Palea elliptic; 4.8–5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above; with 0.5–0.75 of their length adorned. Apical sterile florets 1–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate. Apical sterile lemmas obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.1–1.2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Meliceae. Mujica & Marchi 2007.

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