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Melica eligulata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melica eligulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Melica
Species:
M. eligulata
Binomial name
Melica eligulata
Synonyms[1]

Melica angustifolia Boiss. & Blanche
Melica minuta subsp. angustifolia (Boiss. & Blanche) W.Hempel

Melica eligulata is a species of grass in the family Poaceae.[1][2] It is native to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.[1][3]

Description

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The species is perennial and is caespitose as well. It culms are 30–50 centimetres (12–20 in) long and 1–1.5 millimetres (0.039–0.059 in) wide. The leaf-sheaths are smooth, tubular and have one closed end. The leaf-blades are 6–12 centimetres (2.4–4.7 in) long and 1–2.5 millimetres (0.039–0.098 in) wide while the membrane is eciliated and is 0–0.5 millimetres (0.000–0.020 in) long. Both leaf-sheaths and leaf-blades have glabrous surface. The panicle is open, dense, linear, nodding and is 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long. The main panicle branches are ascending and are divided.[3]

Spikelets are oblong, solitary and are 5–7 millimetres (0.20–0.28 in) long. They have fertile spikelets that are pediceled, the pedicels of which are 1–12 millimetres (0.039–0.472 in) long. Lemma is chartaceous, lanceolated, and is 6–8.5 millimetres (0.24–0.33 in) long and 1.6–2 millimetres (0.063–0.079 in) wide. Its lemma have an obtuse apex while the fertile lemma itself is chartaceous, keelless, oblong and is 5.5 millimetres (0.22 in) long. The species also carry 2–3 sterile florets which are barren, cuneate, clumped and are 2–2.5 millimetres (0.079–0.098 in) long. Both the upper and lower glumes are oblong, keelless, and are membranous. Their size is different though; lower one is 2.5–4.5 millimetres (0.098–0.177 in) long while the upper one is 3.5–6.5 millimetres (0.14–0.26 in) long. It palea is 2-veined.[3]

Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate, have 2 lodicules and grow together. They have 3 anthers with fruits that are caryopses. The fruit also have additional pericarp with a linear hilum.[3]

Ecology

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Melica eligulata grows in the same forests where Turkish pines are found and on elevation of 150–1,100 metres (490–3,610 ft) on rocks and crevices.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Melica eligulata Boiss". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  2. ^ "Melica eligulata Boiss". World Flora Online. The World Flora Online Consortium. n.d. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d W.D. Clayton; M. Vorontsova; K.T. Harman; H. Williamson (November 16, 2012). "Melica eligulata". The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew: GrassBase. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  4. ^ P.H. Davis; R.R. Mill & K. Tan (1985). "Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean Islands". 9. Edinburgh, Great Britain: Edinburgh University Press. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)