Melica montezumae


Melica montezumae, Montezuma melicgrass, is a grass species in the family Poaceae that can be found in Texas and Mexico.

Description

The plant is perennial and is caespitose as well. The culms are long while the leaf-sheaths scaberulous and tubular. Eciliate membrane is long. Leaf-blades are either flat or involute and are wide. Their panicle is open and is in length. The main panicle branches are ascended or spreadout, while spikelets are pendulous and solitary. Fertile spikelets have filiformed pedicels, are cuneate and are long. They have 1 fertile floret which is diminished. Fertile lemma is chartaceous and elliptic and is long. Palea is 2 veined and have scaberulous keels as well. Sterile florets are barren, cuneated, and grow in a clump. Both upper and lower glumes are oblong, scarious and keelless, but the lower one is in length while the upper one is long. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate, and are growing side by side with 3 anthers. Fruits are caryopsis and have additional pericarp.

Ecology

Melica montezumae grows in shady places in the mountains.