Melica altissima L.

This is a tall, robust species with a showy, dense panicle of large, papery spikelets. It is closely related to the E Asian Melica turczaninowiana by its spikelet structure and by the strongly scabrid abaxial surface of the leaf blade. However, the two species are completely different in panicle structure.

Perennial, loosely tufted, with long creeping rhizomes. Culms 50–150 cm tall, 2–3 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths scabrid on veins; leaf blades flat, thin, 10–20 cm × 4–12 mm, abaxial surface strongly scabrid on veins, adaxial surface smooth; ligule 2–5 mm. Panicle linear-oblong in outline, very dense with many crowded spikelets, interrupted below, 10–20 cm, 1-sided; branches erect, appressed to main axis, up to 5 cm. Spikelets broadly elliptic to obovate, 10–14 mm, fertile florets 2(or 3), terminal sterile lemmas gathered into globular cluster; glumes dark purple or white at maturity, oblanceolate-oblong to ovate, subequal, 7–11 mm, papery, 5–7-veined with connecting veinlets, both acute or obtuse; lemmas oblanceolate-oblong, lowest 8–11 mm, 7-veined, additional intermediate veins in lower half, scaberulous, apex obtuse, acute or minutely mucronate; palea 2/3 lemma length, keels ciliolate. Anthers 1.8–2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 18.

Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia (Caucasus, N Iran), C and E Europe].

Woodland fringes, among shrubs; 800–1400 m.

Melica altissima var. atropurpurea Papp; M. altissima var. interrupta Reichenbach; M. sibirica Lamarck.