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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Melica brevicoronata
HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths pilose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–110 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–7 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; linear, or ovate; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; simple.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; curved; ciliate.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 8–11 mm long; falling entire.
GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; with lower wider than upper; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 8–11 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 5–5.5 mm long; 2.5 mm wide; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 11–13 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma hairs 1 mm long. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous; adorned above. Palea surface scaberulous. Rhachilla extension 4 mm long.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1–2 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or obovoid; 3 mm long; dark brown. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.
NOTES Meliceae. Gr Uruguay 1995.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
