Melica pappiana

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms slender; 40–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–4 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; equilateral; 5–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 4–15 mm long; pubescent; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 7 mm long; breaking up at maturity.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; scarious; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–7.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 6.5 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; mid-green; without keel; 7 -veined. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets barren; in a clump; orbicular.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl China 2005.

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