Melica fugax

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 15–40 cm long; swollen at the base; forming an ovoid corm. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 0.75 of their length closed; scaberulous; glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous to pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 8–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 7–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes thickened; 2–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4–7 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–9 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–7 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pac NW 1997.

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