Melica racemosa
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=
|genus=Melica
|species=racemosa
|authority=Thunb. (1794)
|synonyms =
- Melica bolusii {{small|Stapf (1900)}}
- Melica brevifolia {{small|Stapf (1910)}}
- Melica caffrorum {{small|Schrad. (1821)}}
- Melica caffrorum var. elatior {{small|Nees (1841)}}
- Melica decumbens var. racemosa {{small|(Thunb.) Kuntze (1898)}}
- Melica ovalis {{small|Nees (1841)}}
- Melica pumila {{small|Stapf (1900)}}
|synonyms_ref = [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:408120-1 Melica racemosa Thunb.] Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
}}
Melica racemosa is a species of grass that is native to South Africa and Lesotho.{{cite web|url=http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp06179.htm|author=W.D. Clayton |author2=M. Vorontsova |author2-link=Maria Vorontsova (botanist)|author3=K.T. Harman |author4=H. Williamson |title=Melica racemosa|publisher=GrassBase|work=The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens|place=Kew|date=November 16, 2012|accessdate=June 21, 2013}}
Description
It is perennial and caespitose with culms that are {{convert|30|–|60|cm}} long. The leaf sheaths are tubular and have closed at one end. The leaf blades are erect, flat and {{convert|4|–|30|cm}} long by {{convert|1.5|–|5|mm}} wide with smooth surfaces. The membraneis eciliate. It has an open, linear, and secund panicle which is {{convert|7|–|20|cm}} long. The main panicle branches are indistinct and almost racemose.
The spikelets are cuneate, solitary, and have fertile spikelets that are pediceled. It has an acute apex with a chartaceous fertile lemma with hairs that are {{cvt|2|mm}} long. The spikelets carry 2–3 sterile florets which are cuneate, clumped, and {{convert|2|mm}} long. Both the upper and lower glumes are elliptic, keelless, membranous, and have an acute apex. The lower glume is {{convert|4|–|8|mm}} long while the upper one is {{convert|5|–|9|mm}} long. Just like the lower glume, the fertile lemma is elliptic, keelless, and is 4–8 mm long. The sterile one though is glabrous.
The flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate, have 2 lodicules and grow together. They have 3 anthers with fruits that are caryopsis. The fruit is also have additional pericarp with a linear hilum.
Ecology
Melica racemosa grows on hills and mountain slopes. The flowers bloom from September to April.{{cite journal|author=Gibbs-Russell, G.E. |author2=L. Watson |author3=M. Koekemoer |author4=L. Smook |author5=N.P. Barkwrt |author6=H.M. Anderson |author7=M.J. Dallwitz |year=1991|title=Grasses of Southern Africa|journal=Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa|issue=58|publisher=National Botanical Gardens, Botanical Research Institute|place=South Africa}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q13932693}}
Category:Flora of South Africa