Melica smithii

HABIT Perennial. Culms 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 6–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 12–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 1 -nate; 5–10 cm long.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 18–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–6 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–7 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–11 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7–9 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 3–5 mm long overall. Palea 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 4 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas awned.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, eastern Canada, and northwest USA.

NOTES Meliceae. WDC.

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