''Melica'' is a genus of perennial

grasses Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns and ...

known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world.Herbarium.usu.edu: Genus ''Melica'' treatment
/ref> Melica uniflora sl11 (cropped without scale)

Melica uniflora sl11 (cropped without scale)

Melic grasses are clumping to short- rhizomatous

. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing spikelets of papery flowers. The spikelets have between one and seven fertile flowers with a rudimentary structure at the distal end composed of one to four sterile florets. Some species of melic have

corm A corm, bulbo-tuber, or bulbotuber is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ that some plants use to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat (perennation). The word ' ...

s, lending them the name oniongrass.Jepson Manual eFlora: ''Melica'' links
/ref> The genus is most diverse in South America and temperate Asia. Eight species are endemic to China. In North America, most species occur west of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

, with exceptions being ''

Melica mutica ''Melica mutica'', the twoflower melicgrass, is a grass species in the family Poaceae that can be found in southeastern United States. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with elongated rhizomes. Its culms are long. Leaf-sheath ...

'' and ''M. nitens'' which occur throughout much of the southeast and lower Midwest respectively.

Species

Species and hybrids include: Calflora Database: ''Melica''
/ref> * ''

Melica altissima ''Melica altissima'', commonly known as Siberian melic grass or dark purple Siberian melic, is a species of plant in the grass family, Poaceae. It has been naturalized in North America, in Ontario, Oklahoma and New York New York most commonly ...

'' L. – Siberian melic grass * ''

Melica amethystina ''Melica amethystina'' is a grass species in the family Poaceae that can be found in southern Europe. Description The species rhizomes are elongated with elected culmes which are long. The leaf-sheaths are tubular while leaf-blades are convolut ...

'' Pourr. * '' Melica animarum'' Muj.-Sall. & M.Marchi * ''

Melica argentata ''Melica argentata'' is a species of grass endemic to Chile (Coquimbo and O'Higgins). 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 m ...

'' É.Desv. * ''

Melica argyrea ''Melica argyrea'' is a species of grass found in Argentina, Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), and Uruguay. Description The glumes are long and are erect. It has no lateral branches. Leaf-sheaths are tubular for majority of the length and can be scab ...

'' Hack. * ''

Melica aristata ''Melica aristata'' is a species of grass known by the common names awned melic and bearded melicgrass. Distribution It is native to the western United States from the Pacific Northwest to the Sierra Nevada and nearby ranges, where it grows in m ...

'' Thurb. ex Bol. – bearded melic grass * ''

Melica arzivencoi ''Melica arzivencoi'' is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to Brazil where it can be found in Rio Grande do Sul. It was described by Valls and Barcellos in 1973. Description The species is bisexual, cespitose, perennial and ...

'' Valls & Barcellos * ''

Melica × aschersonii ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' M.Schulze * ''

Melica bocquetii ''Melica bocquetii'', is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is endemic to the Subbaetic mountains of southern Spain.S. Talavera. Lagascalia 14(1): 118 (1986). Una nueva especie del genero Melica L. Description The species is perennia ...

'' Talavera * ''

Melica bonariensis ''Melica bonariensis'' is a species of grass endemic to Argentina where it can be found in such provinces as Buenos Aires (Bahía Blanca), La Pampa, and Rio Negro. Description The species is perennial with short rhizomes. Its culms are erect a ...

'' Parodi * ''

Melica brasiliana ''Melica brasiliana'', is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to Brazil and southern South America. Description The species is perennial with elongated rhizomes. Its culms are long. Culm-internodes scaberulous with leaf-sheat ...

'' Ard. * ''

Melica brevicoronata ''Melica brevicoronata'', is a grass species in the family Poaceae that can be found in Brazil, southern South America, and Cerro Pan de Azúcar, Uruguay. Description The species is perennial with elongated rhizomes and pilose butt sheaths. Its ...

'' Roseng. * ''

Melica bulbosa ''Melica bulbosa'' is a species of grass known by the common name oniongrass. The common name comes from the onionlike appearance of the corm at its root; it is not related to the onions. It is native to western North America from British Columbi ...

'' Porter & J.M.Coult. – oniongrass * ''

Melica californica ''Melica californica'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name California melic. Distribution This grass is native to Oregon and California, where it grows in many types of habitat, from mountain forests to open grassland at sea ...

'' Scribn. – California melic grass * ''

Melica canariensis ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' W.Hempel * ''

Melica capillaris ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' Sol. * ''

Melica cepacea ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' (Phil.) Scribn. * ''

Melica chilensis ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial Poaceae, grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizome, rhizomatous Poaceae, grasses. They have culm (bot ...

'' J.Presl * ''

Melica ciliata ''Melica ciliata'', the hairy melic or silky spike melic, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, native to Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia. It has been introduced to South Australia. Description The species is a tuf ...

'' L. – hairy melic, silky spike melic * '' Melica commersonii'' Nees ex Steud. * ''

Melica cupani ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizome, rhizomatous grasses Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a ...

'' Guss. * ''

Melica decipiens ''Melica decipiens'' is a species of grass that can be found in the mountains of Cordoba and San Luis provinces of Argentina. Description The species is perennial with elongated rhizomes and erect culms which are long. The leaf-sheaths are tu ...

'' Caro * ''

Melica dendroides ''Melica dendroides'' is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to southern part of Africa. Description The species is perennial plant, perennial and is caespitose as well. It culm (botany), culms are long with tubular The leaf-s ...

'' Lehm. * '' Melica eligulata'' Boiss. * ''

Melica eremophila ''Melica eremophila'' is a species of grass that is native to South America. Description The species is perennial with short rhizomes. It culms are erect and are long. The plant stem is smooth while the leaf-sheaths are scabrous, tubular, and ...

'' Torres * ''

Melica frutescens ''Melica frutescens'', the woody melicgrass, is a species of Poaceae, grass found in Arizona and California in the United States and in Mexico. Description The species is perennial plant, perennial and have culm (botany), culms that are long an ...

'' Scribn. – woody melicgrass * ''

Melica fugax ''Melica fugax'' is a species of grass known by the common names little oniongrass and little melic. It is native to western North America where it usually grows in volcanic soils in forest and plateau habitat from British Columbia to the Sierra ...

'' Bol. – little oniongrass * ''

Melica geyeri ''Melica geyeri'' is a species of grass known by the common name Geyer's oniongrass. Distribution ''Melica geyeri'' is native to the western United States, where it is found in Oregon and California, including the Sierra Nevada. It grows in many ...

'' Munro ex Bol. – Geyer's oniongrass * '' Melica glabrescens'' (Torres) Torres * ''

Melica grandiflora ''Melica grandiflora'' is a species of grass that can be found in Japan, Korea and China. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with culms that are long. The leaf-sheaths are tubular and are closed on one end while the leaf-blade ...

'' Koidz. * ''

Melica harfordii ''Melica harfordii'' is a species of grass known by the common name Harford's oniongrass. Distribution It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in many types of habitat, including mountain forests ...

'' Bol. – Harford's oniongrass * '' Melica × haussknechtii'' W.Hempel * ''

Melica hunzikeri ''Melica hunzikeri'' is a species of Poaceae, grass that is endemic to southern South America. Description The species is perennial plant, perennial with short rhizomes and erect culm (botany), culms which are long. The leaf-sheaths are tubular ...

'' Nicora * ''

Melica hyalina ''Melica hyalina'' is a species of grass found in Brazil and southern South America. Description The species is perennial with elongated rhizomes and erect culms which are long. The leaf-sheaths are tubular and are closed on one end, with its ...

'' Döll * ''

Melica imperfecta ''Melica imperfecta'' is a species of grass known by the common name smallflower melic and little California melic. It is native to the Arizona, California, and Nevada in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. It grows in chaparral, wo ...

'' Trin. – smallflower melic * ''

Melica kozlovii ''Melica kozlovii'' is a species of grass found on mountain slopes in Mongolia and China (Gansu, Qinghai, Shanxi) at above sea level. Description The species is perennial loosely tufted with short rhizomes. The culms are as tall as and are w ...

'' Tzvelev * '' Melica lilloi'' Bech. * ''

Melica longiflora ''Melica longiflora'' is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to Chile where it can be found from Coquimbo to Talca. Description The species is perennial and is caespitose as well. The culms are either ascended or rambled, are ...

'' Steud. * '' Melica longiligulata'' Z.L.Wu * ''

Melica macra ''Melica macra'' is a species of grass that can be found in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Description The species is bisexual with closed leaf-sheaths and have short rhizomes with culms that are tall. It panicle is long and is linear. Its ...

'' Nees * ''

Melica minor ''Melica minor'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is endemic to Caucasus. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with long culms. The leaf-sheaths are tubular and are closed on one end with its surface being glabro ...

'' Hack. ex Boiss. * ''

Melica minuta ''Melica minuta'' is a species of grass that can be found in the Mediterranean Basin, from Portugal and Morocco to the Eastern Mediterranean. Description The species is perennial and have long culms. Both the leaf-sheaths and the leaf-blades ...

'' L. – small melic * ''

Melica mollis ''Melica mollis'' is a species of grass endemic to Chile where it grows in rock crevices at above sea level. Description The species is perennial, caespitose and densely clumped with long culms. The leaf-sheaths are tubular and are closed on ...

'' Phil. * ''

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 an ...

'' Piper – Montezuma melic * ''

'' Walter – two-flower melic grass * ''

Melica nitens ''Melica nitens'' is a species of grass known by the common names threeflower melicgrass or three-flowered melic. It is native to the central United States.Melica nutans ''Melica nutans'', known as mountain melick, is a grass species in the family Poaceae, native to European and Asian forests. Description The grass has slender creeping rhizomes. The culms are tall. It inflorescence is comprised out of 5–15 ...

'' L. – mountain melic; nodding melic * ''

Melica onoei ''Melica onoei'' is a species of grass found in China, Japan, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan. Description The species is perennial and have elongated rhizomes. It culms are long. The species leaf-sheaths are tubular and smooth with one of their le ...

'' Franch. & Sav. * '' Melica pappiana'' W.Hempel * ''

Melica parodiana ''Melica parodiana'' is a species of grass found in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Uruguay. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with short rhizomes. They are also clumped, while culms are erect and are long. The plant stem is scab ...

'' Torres * ''

Melica patagonica ''Melica patagonica'' is a species of grass that is endemic to South America. Description The species is perennial, caespitose and clumped while culms are decumbent and are long. The leaf-sheaths are scabrous, tubular, are closed on one end an ...

'' Parodi * ''

Melica paulsenii ''Melica paulsenii'' is a species of grass endemic to Chile where it grows along the coastal cordillera at above sea level. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with long culms. The leaf-sheaths are tubular and are closed on on ...

'' Phil. * '' Melica penicillaris'' Boiss. & Balansa * ''

Melica persica ''Melica persica'' is a species of grass that can be found in Central Asia, India, and in Gansu, Jilin, Sichuan provinces of China. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with elongated rhizomes. It culms are erect long. The leaf- ...

'' Kunth * '' Melica picta'' K.Koch * '' Melica poecilantha'' É.Desv. * ''

Melica porteri ''Melica porteri'', known as Porter's melicgrass, is a species of grass that grows in the United States and Mexico. In the US it is found in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Iowa. Description The species is perennial and c ...

'' Scribn. * ''

Melica przewalskyi ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short- rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearin ...

'' Roshev. * ''

Melica racemosa ''Melica racemosa'' is a species of grass that is native to South Africa and Lesotho. Description It is perennial and caespitose with culms that are long. The leaf sheaths are tubular and have closed at one end. The leaf blades are erect, flat ...

'' Thunb. * '' Melica radula'' Franch. * '' Melica rectiflora'' Boiss. & Heldr. * ''

Melica rigida ''Melica rigida'' is a species of Poaceae, grass found in Argentina, Brazil (Santa Catarina (state), Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul), and Uruguay. Description The species is perennial plant, perennial with short rhizomes. It culm (botany), cu ...

'' Cav. * ''

Melica riograndensis ''Melica riograndensis'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is endemic to Brazil. Description The species is perennial and with short rhizomes and long erect culms. The leaf-sheaths are tubular, have one closed end, and are glab ...

'' Longhi-Wagner & Valls * ''

Melica sarmentosa ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' Nees * '' Melica scaberrima'' (Nees ex Steud.) Hook.f. * ''

Melica scabra ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' Kunth * ''

Melica scabrosa ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' Trin. * ''

Melica schafkati ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short- rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearin ...

'' Bondarenko * ''

Melica schuetzeana ''Melica schuetzeana'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is found in Bhutan and in the Chinese provinces Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan. It was first described in 1972 by Werner Hempel. Description The species is perennial and have ...

'' W.Hempel * '' Melica secunda'' Regel * ''

Melica serrana ''Melica serrana'', is a species of grass endemic to Cerro de las Ánimas, Uruguay. Description The species is perennial and caespitose, with elongated rhizomes. Its culms are long with scabrous leaf-sheaths. It eciliate membrane is long and ...

'' Muj.-Sall. & M.Marchi * '' Melica smirnovii'' Tzvelev * ''

Melica smithii ''Melica smithii'' (Smith's melic grass) is a species of grass that grows in the Canadian provinces Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, and the US states Idaho, Michigan, Montana, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The spec ...

'' (Porter ex A.Gray) Vasey – Smith's melicgrass * ''

Melica spartinoides ''Melica spartinoides'', is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is endemic to the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina (state), Santa Catarina. Description The species is perennial plant, perennial and caespitose with short rhizomes. It c ...

'' L.B.Sm. * '' Melica spectabilis'' Scribn. – purple oniongrass * ''

Melica stricta ''Melica stricta'' is a species of grass known by the common name rock melic. Distribution It is native to California, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah in the western United States. It grows in mountain and plateau habitats, including areas with an alp ...

'' Bol. – rock melic grass * ''

Melica stuckertii ''Melica stuckertii'', is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to Argentina and southern South America. Description The species is perennial and have short rhizomes. It culms are erected and are long. It eciliate membrane is ...

'' Hack. * ''

Melica subflava ''Melica subflava'', is a species of grass that is endemic to China. Description The species is perennial and caespitose, which is clumped and have absent rhizomes. Its culms are erect and are long and in diameter. The species leaf-sheaths a ...

'' Z.L.Wu & * ''

Melica subulata ''Melica subulata'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name Alaska oniongrass. Distribution It is native to western North America from Alaska to California to Colorado, where it grows in moist habitat, often in forests. ''Melica ...

'' (Griseb.) Scribn. – Alaska oniongrass * '' Melica tangutorum'' Tzvelev * ''

Melica taylorii ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short- rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearin ...

'' W.Hempel * '' Melica teneriffae'' Hack. ex Christ * ''

Melica tenuis ''Melica tenuis'', is a species of grass that can be found in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentinian provinces such as Misioines and Entre Rios. Description The species is perennial and caespitose with short rhizomes. It culms are long an ...

'' Arechav. * ''

Melica × thuringiaca ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short- rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearin ...

'' Rauschert * '' Melica tibetica'' Roshev. * '' Melica torreyana'' Scribn. – Torrey's melic * '' Melica transsilvanica'' Schur * ''

Melica turczaninowiana ''Melica turczaninowiana'', is a species of grass found in Mongolia, North Korea, Russia (Siberia), and China (Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Inner Mongolia, and Shanxi). Description The species is perennial and caespitose with caulined leaves. It ...

'' Ohwi * ''

Melica × tzvelevii ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' W.Hempel * ''

Melica uniflora ''Melica uniflora'', commonly known as wood melick, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is native to much of Europe, and to parts of South West Asia and North Africa. Description The species rhizomes are elongated. The culm (botany) ...

'' Retz. * '' Melica violacea'' Cav. * ''

Melica virgata ''Melica virgata'', is a grass species in the family Poaceae that can be found in China, Mongolia and Russia (Siberia). Description The species is perennial and tufted, with wiry culms that are long and in diameter. Its lemma is elliptic and ...

'' Turcz. ex Trin. * ''

Melica × weinii ''Melica'' is a genus of perennial grasses known generally as melic or melic grass. They are found in most temperate regions of the world. Melic grasses are clumping to short-rhizomatous grasses. They have flowering culms up to tall bearing ...

'' W.Hempel * ''

Melica yajiangensis ''Melica yajiangensis'', is a species of Poaceae, grass that is endemic to China. Description The species is perennial plant, perennial and caespitose, which is Sessility (zoology), clumped and have absent rhizomes. Its culm (botany), culms are ...

'' Z.L.Wu

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q158251 Poaceae genera Grasses of Africa Grasses of Asia Grasses of Europe Grasses of North America Grasses of Oceania Grasses of South America Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus