Melica frutescens

Melica frutescens, the woody melicgrass, is a species of grass found in Arizona and California in the United States and in Mexico.

Description
The species is perennial and have culms that are 75 – long and woody. The species' lateral branches are sparse with leaf-sheaths being scabrous, tubular and closed. It leaf-blades are 2 – wide. It panicle is contracted, linear, and is 12 – long with filiform pedicels that are located on fertile spikelet. The main branches are appressed and carry oblong and solitary spikelets that are 12 – long. They are comprised out of 3–6 fertile florets which are diminished at the apex. It sterile florets are barren, oblong, growing in a clump and are 4.5 – long. The species' fertile lemma is chartaceous, keelless, oblong and is 8 – long. Both lower and upper glumes are chartaceous, elliptic and keelless with acute apexes. Their size is different though; Lower glume is 7 – long while the upper one is 9 – long. Flowers are fleshy, oblong, truncate and grow together. They also have 3 anthers with fruits that are caryopses and have an additional pericarp.