192 



POACEAE 



9. Melica inflata (Boland.) Vasey. 

 Sierra Onion-grass. Fig. 438. 



Melica poaeoides inflata Boland. Proc. Calif. Acad. 4: 101. 1S70. 

 Melica inflata Vasey, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 1: 269. 1893. 



Culms 60-100 cm. tall, bulbous at base ; panicle more 

 or less open, the few branches long, spreading at least 

 in anthesis ; spikelets several-flowered, about 12 mm. long, 

 l)road. pale green ; glumes broad, shorter than the lemmas, 

 scabrous on the strong nerves ; lemmas scabrous, strongly 

 nerved. 



Wet meadows; known only from California (Mount Shasta; Yo- 

 Semite National Park;. June. Type locality: Yosemite Valley. 



10. Melica stricta Boland. 

 Nodding Alelica. Fig. 439. 



Melica stricta Boland. Proc. Calif. Acad. 3: 4. 1863. 



Culms 15-40 cm. tall, the base somewhat thickened 

 but not bulbous ; panicle narrow, few-flowered, 

 nearly simple, usually 1 or 2 branches below ; spike- 

 lets large, about 12 mm. long, reflexed on rather 

 delicate pedicels ; glumes nearly as long as the spike- 

 let, longer than the lower lemma ; lemma scabrous, 

 obtuse, awnless. 



liocky slopes and banks in the Arid Transition Zone; 

 Oregon to San Bernardino Mountains, and east to Utah. 

 June-July. Type locality: Yosemite Valley. 



11. Melica frutescens Scribn. 

 Tall Melica. Fig. 440. 



Melica frutescens Scribn. Proc. Acad. Phila. 1885: 45. pi. 1. 

 f. 15, 16. 1885. 



Culms 1-2 meters tall, rather woody below, not 

 bulbous at base ; blades short, especially on the 

 branches and innovations ; panicle silvery-shining, 

 narrow, the branches short and appressed; spike- 

 lets about 12 mm. long; glumes about as long as 

 the spikelet, prominently 5-nerved ; lemmas acute, 

 entire, awnless, 7-nerved. 



Hills and canons, Lower Sonoran Zone; southern Cali- 

 fornia to Lower California. Apr. -May. Type locality: San 

 Diego. 



12. Melica bulbosa Geyer. 

 Western Alelica. Fig. 441. 



Melica bulbosa Geyer; Thurb. in S. Wats. Bot. Calif. 2: 304. 



1880. 

 Melica calif omica Scribn. Proc. Acad. Phila. 1885: 46. 1885. 

 Melica longiligula Scribn. & Kearn. U. S. Dept. Agr. Div. Agrost. 



Bull. 17: 225. /. 521. 1899. 



Culms 60-120 cm. tall, the base usually decumlient 

 and often more or less bulbous or corm-like ; lower 

 sheaths on the older culms persistent, brown and split 

 into numerous fibers ; panicle narrow, rather densely 

 flowered, 10-20 cm. long, tawny or purplish, not silvery- 

 shining; spikelets 10-12 mm. long, papery, 3-4-flowered ; 

 second glume about 7 mm. long; lemmas rather promi- 

 nently 7-nerved, awnless. 



Mountain meadows and rocky woods, Oregon to Nevada and 

 <onth to southern California. May-June. Type locality: Santa 

 Ynez. 



