Kingdom Plantae Family Poaceae Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Melica | |
Melica frutescens (woody melicgrass) is a species of grass in the Poaceae family that can be found in such US states as Arizona and California and in Mexico.
Description
The species is perennial and have culms that are 75–200 centimetres (30–79 in) long and woody. The species' lateral branches are sparse with leaf-sheaths being scabrous, tubular and closed. It leaf-blades are 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in) wide. It panicle is contracted, linear, and is 12–35 centimetres (4.7–13.8 in) long with filiform pedicels that are located on fertile spikelet. The main branches are appressed and carry oblong and solitary spikelets that are 12–18 millimetres (0.47–0.71 in) long. They are comprised out of 3–6 fertile florets which are diminished at the apex. It sterile florets are barren, oblong, growing in a clump and are 4.5–6.5 millimetres (0.18–0.26 in) long. The species' fertile lemma is chartaceous, keelless, oblong and is 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in) long. Both lower and upper glumes are chartaceous, elliptic and keelless with acute apexes. Their size is different though; Lower glume is 7–12 millimetres (0.28–0.47 in) long while the upper one is 9–15 millimetres (0.35–0.59 in) long. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate and grow together. They also have 3 anthers with fruits that are caryopses and have an additional pericarp.