Kingdom Plantae Family Poaceae Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Melica | |
Similar Melica harfordii, Melica stricta, Melica aristata | ||
Melica smithii (Smith's melic grass) is a species of grass in the Poaceae family that can be found in such Canadian provinces as Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, and the US states such as Idaho, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The species is named after Charles Eastwick Smith.
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Description
The species have scabrous leaf-sheaths and leaf-blades, with the last one being lax as well. Both leath-sheaths and blades are 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) long and 6–12 millimetres (0.24–0.47 in) wide. It have 12–25 centimetres (4.7–9.8 in) long panicle with solitary branches. They are also distant and naked and sometimes 10 centimetres (3.9 in) reflexed. The species' spikelets have 3-6 flowers, are 18–20 millimetres (0.71–0.79 in) long and are purple in colour.
Habitat
Can be found deciduous forests amongst beech, maple, and hemlock trees.
Threat level
In Wisconsin the species is considered to be endangered.