Melica montezumae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–10 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 8–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; simple.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; with lower wider than upper; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 7–8 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels. Upper glume surface rugose.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–7 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel. Lemma surface striate; with tufts of hair on midvein; bearing 1 hair tufts in all. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; cuneate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Meliceae. Gr Texas 1994.

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