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 20 – long. The plant stem is smooth while the leaf-sheaths are scabrous, tubular, and are closed on one end. It eciliate membrane is 3 - 6 mm long and is pubescent on the surface. The leaf-blades are flat and are glabrous with scabrous surface and ciliated margins. They are 1.5 – long and 2 – wide. Panicle is inflorescent and is contracted, linear and is 4 – long. The main branches are appressed. The panicles have curved, filiform and pubescent pedicels which are hairy above. The spikelets are orbicular, solitary, and are 7 – long. They are comprised out of 1 fertile floret which is diminished at the apex.

Its lemma have ciliate margins and scabrous surface with obtuse apex. It also have hairs that are 1 mm long while fertile lemma is chartaceous, elliptic, keelless, and is 5 – long by 2.4 – wide. Both low and upper glumes are membranous and have an obtuse apexes, but are different in size. Also, both glumes have acute apexes. Low glume is 7 – long, while the upper one is 5 – long. Palea is puberulous, have ciliolate keels and is 4.5 – long. It sterile florets are barren, orbicular, and grow in a clump. Flowers are 0.3 mm long and are fleshy, oblong, truncate and united. They have 3 anthers that are 0.8 – long. The fruits are caryopses, ellipsoid, have an additional pericarp, are 2.5 – long and are dark brown in colour.