Kingdom:
Phylum:
Angiosperms
Order:
Poales
Family:
Genus:
Species:
cepacea
ID:
879756

Status:
valid

Authors:
(Phil.) Scribn.

Source:
wcs

Year:
1901

Citation Micro:
Circ. Div. Agrostol. U.S.D.A. 30: 8 (1901)

WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000879091

Common Names

  • Cepaea Melic Grass
  • Cepaea Melic
  • Cepaea Onion Grass

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Description

Melica cepacea (also called Spiked melic, among many other common names) is a perennial grass native to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It grows in tufts and has a clumping habit. Its leaves are flat and have a rough texture. It grows in moist grasslands, woodlands and along the edges of streams.

Uses & Benefits

Melica cepacea is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and as a source of food for livestock. It is also used as a medicinal plant to treat various ailments such as fever, colds, and stomachaches.

Flower, Seeds and Seedlings

The flower of Melica cepacea is a spikelet with a single floret. The seed is a small, dark brown caryopsis. Seedlings are grass-like with a single leaf blade and a short sheath.

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Cultivation and Propagation

Melica cepacea can be propagated by seed or division. It prefers a well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It is drought tolerant and can tolerate temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C). It is best to water the plant deeply and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Where to Find Melica cepacea

Melica cepacea can be found in parts of the United States, including California, Oregon, and Washington.

Species in the Melica genus

Melica aschersonii, Melica thuringiaca, Melica weinii, Melica altissima, Melica altissima, Melica amethystina, Melica animarum, Melica argentata, Melica argyrea, Melica aristata, Melica arzivencoi, Melica bocquetii, Melica bonariensis, Melica brasiliana, Melica brevicoronata, Melica bulbosa, Melica californica, Melica canariensis, Melica capillaris, Melica cepacea, Melica chilensis, Melica ciliata, Melica commersonii, Melica cupanii, Melica decipiens, Melica dendroides, Melica eligulata, Melica eremophila, Melica frutescens, Melica fugax, Melica geyeri, Melica glabrescens, Melica harfordii, Melica hunzikeri, Melica hyalina, Melica imperfecta, Melica kozlovii, Melica lilloi, Melica longiflora, Melica longiligulata, Melica macra, Melica minor, Melica minuta, Melica mollis, Melica montezumae, Melica mutica, Melica nitens, Melica nutans, Melica onoei, Melica pappiana,

Species in the Poaceae family

Achnatherum pekinense, Achnatherum pubicalyx, Achnatherum sibiricum, Achnatherum turcomanicum, Achnatherum brandisii, Achnatherum bromoides, Achnatherum calamagrostis, Achnatherum confusum, Achnatherum inebrians, Achnatherum jacquemontii, Achnatherum virescens, Achnatherum paradoxum, Achnatherum nakaii, Achnatherum pelliotii, Achnatherum haussknechtii, Achnatherum mandavillei, Achnatherum pilosum, Achnatherum parviflorum, Achnatherum staintonii, Aciachne acicularis, Aciachne flagellifera, Aciachne pulvinata, Acidosasa breviclavata, Acidosasa brilletii, Acidosasa chinensis, Acidosasa edulis, Acidosasa glauca, Acidosasa guangxiensis, Acidosasa lingchuanensis, Acidosasa nanunica, Acidosasa notata, Acidosasa purpurea, Acidosasa venusta, Acidosasa carinata, Acostia gracilis, Acrachne henrardiana, Acrachne perrieri, Acrachne racemosa, Acritochaete volkensii, Acroceras amplectens, Acroceras attenuatum, Acroceras boivinii, Acroceras bosseri, Acroceras calcicola, Acroceras chaseae, Acroceras diffusum, Acroceras elegans, Acroceras excavatum, Acroceras fluminense, Acroceras gabunense,

References

Frank Lamson-Scribner (1851-1938): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Scribn.' in the authors string.
POWO record for urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:156538-2: Govaerts R (ed.). 2023. WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants [Version 11]. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [WWW document] URL http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ [accessed 20 April 2023].