Melica imperfecta Trin.
=Melica imperfecta var. flexuosa Bol.
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Melica imperfecta Trin.=Melica imperfecta var. flexuosa Bol.
Poaceae (Grass Family)NativeSmall Flowered Melic Grass |
May Photo
Plant Characteristics:
Culms erect, 3-11 dm. tall; blades 1-6 mm. wide, glabrous; panicle 5-36 cm.
long, the lower branches spreading or reflexed, the branches often fascicled;
spikelets 4-7 mm. long, usually 1-, occasionally 2-fld.; glumes obtuse to
acutish; lemmas not pubescent above, acute to obtuse 3-7 mm. long.
Habitat:
Common on dry open often rocky slopes below 6500 ft.; Coastal Sage Scrub,
Chaparral, S. Oak Wd., Yellow Pine F., etc.; L. Calif. through cismontane Calif.
to cent. Calif. April-May. (Munz,
Flora So. Calif. 982 and Abrams, Vol. I 193).
Name:
Melica, an Italian name for a kind of sorghum, probably from the
sweet juice (Greek, mel, honey). (Munz,
Flora So. Calif. 980). Latin,
imperfectus, incomplete, imperfect. (Simpson 289).
The flowers sometimes lack stamens or pistils.
(John Johnson). Latin,
felxuosa, crooked. (Simpson
250). Pertaining to the reflexed panicle branches.
(my comment).
General:
Occasional in the study area, intermixed with M. imperfecta.
Always found on bluff sides and areas that were never cultivated or
grazed. (my comment).
The species are in general palatable grasses but, not being gregarious,
do not furnish much forage. (Hitchcock
192). The 1993 Jepson Manual combines Melica imperfecta and M.
imperfecta var. flexuosa. Because
I identified both varieties prior to the publishing of the Jepson Manual, I have
kept both data sheets along with their photographs.
(my comment).
Text Ref:
Abrams, Vol. I 193; Hickman, Ed. 1271; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 982.
Photo Ref:
May-June 93 # 3,4.
Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.
First Found: May 1993.
Computer Ref: Plant Data 455.
Have plant specimen.
Last edit 5/18/05.
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May Photo