Kingdom:
Phylum:
Angiosperms
Order:
Poales
Family:
Genus:
Species:
nitens
ID:
879977

Status:
valid

Authors:
(Scribn.) Nutt. ex Piper

Source:
wcs

Year:
1905

Citation Micro:
Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 32: 387 (1905)

WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000879312

Common Names

  • Melica nitens
  • Shining Melic Grass
  • Shining Melic

Searching for Melica nitens? Discover Suppliers and Request Free Samples Now!

Find Suppliers & Request Samples

Description

Melica nitens (also called shining melic grass, among many other common names) is a perennial grass native to the Mediterranean region. It has an upright habit, with long, narrow, grey-green leaves and small, yellow-green flowers that appear in summer. It is typically found in dry, sunny areas, such as rocky slopes and hillsides.

Uses & Benefits

Melica nitens is used as an ornamental plant for its attractive foliage and flowers. It is also used as a ground cover in gardens and as a lawn grass in some areas.

Flower, Seeds and Seedlings

The flower of Melica nitens is a small, greenish-white, spike-like inflorescence. The seed is a small, dark brown, oblong nut. The seedlings are short and have a tuft of greenish-white leaves.

Searching for Melica nitens? Discover Suppliers and Request Free Samples Now!

Find Suppliers & Request Samples

Cultivation and Propagation

Melica nitens can be propagated by seed or division. Seeds should be sown in spring or early summer in a well-drained soil in a sunny position. Division should be done in spring or autumn. It is best to divide the clumps every three to four years to maintain vigour.

Where to Find Melica nitens

Melica nitens can be found in the Mediterranean region.

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

Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Nutt.' in the authors string.
Charles Piper (1867-1926): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Piper' in the authors string.
Frank Lamson-Scribner (1851-1938): Based on occurrence of standard abbreviation 'Scribn.' in the authors string.
POWO record for urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1034576-2: 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].