Melica transsilvanica Schur, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: de lan chou cao

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 40-90 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10-15 cm long; 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides.  Inflorescence a panicle.  Panicle open; linear; dense; 4-7 cm long; 1.5 cm wide.  Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1-5 mm long.  Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.  Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 2-3 mm long; 0.4-0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 5-6 mm long; 1-1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.  Florets: Fertile lemma elliptic; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7-9 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 2-3 in number; barren; in a clump; cuneate.  Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3.  Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear"  (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  In China, "deciduous broad-leaved forests, hills in steppe, dry places; 800-2000 m"  (Flora of China online).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Europe and Asia (GrassBase).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Deciduous broad-leaved forests, hills in steppe, dry places; 800-2000 m. Xinjiang

Control:  If you know of control methods for Melica transsilvanica, please let us know.