Melica przewalskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 30–75 cm long. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or absent. Leaf-blades 10–18 cm long; 6 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation prominent. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; nodding; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–3 -nate; 1–5 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous; hairy at tip.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–2.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong, or orbicular; 0–2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3; 1 mm long; brown.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Meliceae. Pl Cent Asia 1996.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Roshevitz 1996.

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