Melica mutica Walter - Two-flower Melic Grass
Family - Poaceae
Stems:
Node of stem.
Leaves:
Leaf base.
Arrow shows ligule.
Inflorescence:
Flowers:
Flowering - March - May.
Habitat - Stream banks, wet hammocks, road banks.
Origin - Native to North America.
Other information - This species can be found throughout Alabama and is fairly common. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its open inflorescences and large spikelets, which have two fertile florets each. This is a perennial species growing from rhizomes.
The genus name Melica is the classical name for some other plant given by Linnaeus for this species.
The species epithet mutica derives from the Latin "muti(c)" meaning "cut-off, blunt" probably for the lemmas of the flowers.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken at the San Marcos de Appalache State Historic Site, FL., 3-30-05.