Biology:Melica

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Short description: Genus of grasses

Melica
Melica ciliata 010707.jpg
Melica ciliata
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Melicodae
Tribe: Meliceae
Genus: Melica
L.
Species

See text

Melica is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world.[1]

Melica uniflora spikelet
Corm of Melica spectabilis, purple oniongrass
Melica altissima 'Atropurpurea' cultivar
Melica picta in situ

Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to 250 cm (98 in) tall bearing spikelets of papery flowers. The spikelets have between one and seven fertile flowers with a rudimentary structure at the distal end composed of one to four sterile florets.[1] Some species of melic have corms, lending them the name oniongrass.[2]

The genus is most diverse in South America and temperate Asia.[3] Eight species are endemic to China.[4] In North America, most species occur west of the Mississippi River, with exceptions being Melica mutica and M. nitens which occur throughout much of the southeast and lower Midwest respectively.[1][5]

Species

Species and hybrids include:[3][6]


References

Wikidata ☰ Q158251 entry