Melica secunda

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5–5 mm long; bilobed. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 7–17 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; secund; 7–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose, or simple; 1–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 7–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–6.5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 5–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl Pak 1993.

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