Melica argentata
Melica argentata is a species of grass endemic to Chile.
Description
The species culmes are rambled, and are either straight or zigzag shaped. They are long and in diameter. The leaf-sheaths are tubular with the membrane being scaberulous and long. The leaf-blades though are long and wide. It also has scabrous margins and bottom which is rough on both sides. The panicle is pyramidical and is long. It has secund branches with scabrous axis. Spikelets are solitary with fertile spikelets being pedicelled, pedicels of which are ciliated, curved, filiformed and hairy. They also have 2 fertile florets which are diminished at the apex and which are also elliptic and are long. The callus of the floret is pubescent and also has scaberulous rhachilla.The fertile lemma is chartaceous, oblong, is long and wide. Sterile florets are barren and grow in a clump, which is also cuneated and is in length. The apex of the lemma is emarginated with the hairs being of in length. The lower glume is membranous, ovate, is long and is longer than the upper glume. The upper glume is oblong and is long. Both glumes are emarginated, are asperulous on the bottom and have no keels. The lower glume is 5–6 veined while the upper one is 5-veined. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate and are long with 3 anthers which are in length. The species palea is 2-veined with ciliolated keels which are adorned on the top. Fruits have caryopsis with an added pericarp and are long. They are dark brown in colour and have a linear hilum which is 1 length of their caryopsis.