Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Melica porteri Scribner
(Porter's Melica)


Family: Poaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
None

Melica porteri is an upper elevation perennial. The leaf sheath margins are fused near the top. The upper floret of the spikelets is empty and the spikelets are awnless. The floret at the end of the rachilla is pointed. The variety seen here is Melica porteri var. laxa, since the panicle branches are not erect.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Melica porteri, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris, Richard Felger, Scott Zager & Manda Jost, Black Range, Hillsboro Peak trail, Nov. 16, 2008



Melica porteri, macro of spikelet, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris, Richard Felger, Scott Zager & Manda Jost, Black Range, Hillsboro Peak trail, Nov. 16, 2008



Melica porteri, closeup of raceme, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris, & Kelly Kindscher, Black Range, McKnight Peak, Aug. 9, 2009


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