Meliceae
Encyclopedia
The Meliceae is a tribe of grass
es near the base of the Pooideae
. It includes two relatively large genera, Melica (based on accounts in multiple regional floras) with about 80-90 species and Glyceria
with about 55 species. Its other genera are Pleuropogon
, with 5 species, Triniochloa
with 4 species, Schizachne
with 2 species, and Anthochloa
, Lycochloa
, and Streblochaete
, each of which includes only one species.
, another tribe with closed leaf sheaths, in their glabrous ovaries as well as their lemma venation and short short lodicules. They also differ from other members of the Pooideae in having chromosome base numbers of 9, 10, and 8.
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es near the base of the Pooideae
Pooideae
The Pooideae is a subfamily of the true grass family Poaceae. It includes some major cereals such as wheat, barley, oat, rye and many lawn and pasture grasses.- List :...
. It includes two relatively large genera, Melica (based on accounts in multiple regional floras) with about 80-90 species and Glyceria
Glyceria
Glyceria is a genus of grasses known commonly as mannagrass or, as referred to in the UK, sweet-grass. These are perennial rhizomatous grasses found in wet areas in temperate regions worldwide. The base of the grass grows along the ground and may root at several places. Then it grows erect and...
with about 55 species. Its other genera are Pleuropogon
Pleuropogon
Pleuropogon is a genus of grasses known generally as semaphore grass. There are five species, all native to western North America, with one extending into eastern Asia. These are erect grasses with drooping leaves...
, with 5 species, Triniochloa
Triniochloa
Triniochloa is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.-External links:*...
with 4 species, Schizachne
Schizachne
Schizachne is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.-External links:*...
with 2 species, and Anthochloa
Anthochloa
Anthochloa is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.- External links :*...
, Lycochloa
Lycochloa
Lycochloa is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.-External links:*...
, and Streblochaete
Streblochaete
Streblochaete is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.-External links:*...
, each of which includes only one species.
Distinguishing characteristics
Members of the Meliceae have closed leaf sheaths; lemma veins that do not or only scarcely converge distally; and short, truncate, lodicules. They differ from BromeaeBromus
Bromus is a large genus of the grass family . Estimates in the scientific literature of the number of species have ranged from 100 to 400, but plant taxonomists currently recognize around 160–170 species...
, another tribe with closed leaf sheaths, in their glabrous ovaries as well as their lemma venation and short short lodicules. They also differ from other members of the Pooideae in having chromosome base numbers of 9, 10, and 8.