Melica brevicoronata

Melica brevicoronata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Melica
Species: M. brevicoronata
Binomial name
Melica brevicoronata
Synonyms
  • Andropogon glaucophyllus[1]

Melica brevicoronata, is a grass species in the Poaceae family that can be found in Brazil, southern South America,[2] and Cerro Pan de Azúcar, Uruguay.[1]

Description

The species is perennial with elongated rhizomes and pilosed butt sheaths. Its culms are erect and are 40–110 centimetres (16–43 in) long. Leaf-sheaths are tubular with one of their length being closed. Its eciliate membrane is 0.5–7 millimetres (0.020–0.276 in) long with leaf-blades being 10–20 millimetres (0.39–0.79 in) long and 1–3 millimetres (0.039–0.118 in) wide. They also have scabrous bottom, are pubescent and a bit hairy. The panicle is open, is linear and is 10–25 centimetres (3.9–9.8 in) long. The main panicle branches are spread out. It spikelets are elliptic, solitary and are 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in) long. Fertile spikelets have ciliated, curved and filiformed pedicels.[2]

Margins of lemma are ciliate. The lemma itself though is 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long and have obtuse apex. Fertile lemma is chartaceous and is 5–5.5 millimetres (0.20–0.22 in) long and 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) wide. Palea have scaberulous keels and surface. Rhachilla is 4 millimetres (0.16 in) in length and is extended. Lower glumes are elliptic and are 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in) long while the upper glumes are lanceolate and are 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in) long. Both the lower and upper glumes are obtuse and have asperulous surfaces. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate, and grow together, the 3 anthers of which are 1–2 millimetres (0.039–0.079 in) in length. Fruits are brown coloured, ellipsoid and have an additional pericarp and are 3 millimetres (0.12 in) long with linear hilum.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Rosengurtt, Bernardo (April 10, 1966). Isotype of Melica brevicoronata Rosengurtt, 1970 & Arrillaga de Maffei, 1970 & Izaguirre de Artucio, 1970 [family POACEAE]. JSTOR.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson (November 12, 2012). "Melica brevicoronata". The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew: GrassBase. Retrieved June 1, 2013.