Ciliate melic (Melica ciliata, Sp. Pl.: 66 (1753))

Family: Poaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 66 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Melica

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Xinjiang, Madeira, Medit. to Iran

Description

Ciliate melic, scientifically known as Melica ciliata, is a distinguished species within the Poaceae family. First documented by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1753, this resilient grass has garnered interest for its extensive natural range and adaptive qualities.

Endemic to a broad swath of regions, ciliate melic thrives from the temperate zones of Europe to the diverse climates of Xinjiang. Additionally, it can be found flourishing in the Mediterranean and extends its reach to Iran and the Madeira archipelago. Such a widespread distribution attests to the grass’s adaptability to various environmental conditions and altitudes.

Characteristically, Melica ciliata is known for its ciliated, or finely fringed, lemmas—a trait that grants it the common name “ciliate melic.” These fine hairs or cilia along the margins of the lemmas are not only a defining feature but also contribute to the plant’s unique texture and appearance.

In its native habitats, ciliate melic often occupies dry, calcareous soils, typically preferring open woodlands, rocky slopes, and grasslands. Its ability to grow in these less fertile soils highlights its resilience and the strategic adaptations it has developed over time to cope with varied and often harsh environmental conditions.

Given its aesthetic features and ecological significance, Melica ciliata holds value in various ecological studies and is often incorporated into wildflower and naturalistic garden settings. Its elegant appearance and structural form make it an attractive choice for enhancing the biodiversity and visual appeal of cultivated landscapes.

Overall, Melica ciliata stands as a testament to the evolutionary ingenuity of grasses, offering both ecological benefits and a touch of natural beauty to the environments it inhabits.

Common Names

Eng: hairy melicgrass, ciliate melic, hairy melic, silky-spike melic
Dan: randhåret flitteraks
Deu: wimper-perlgras
Swe: grusslok, alvarmelika
Nld: wimperparelgras
En: Ciliate melic, Hairy melic, Silky-spike melic, Hairy melicgrass, Ciliate Melick
Ca: Mèlica ciliada
Cs: Strdivka brvitá
Da: Randhåret flitteraks
Nl: Wimperparelgras
Fr: Mélique ciliée
De: Wimper-Perlgras, Gewimpertes Perlgras, Wimperperlgras
It: Melica barbata
Sk: Mednička brvitá
Es: Espiguilla de seda
Sv: Grusslok, Alvarmelika

Synonyms

• Melica bauhini (Ten.)
• Melica lutescens (Lojac.)
• Melica colorata (Dulac)
• Melica ciliata f. vulgaris (W.Hempel)
• Melica nebrodensis (Parl.)
• Melica caespitosa (Schur)
• Melica ciliata f. major (Heldr. ex Papp)
• Melica balansae (Boiss. & Balansa)
• Verinea pterostachys (Merino)
• Beckeria montana (Bernh.)
• Melica ciliata var. micrantha ((Boiss. & Hohen.) Boiss.)
• Melica ciliata f. violacea ((Papp) Papp & Beldie)
• Melica ciliata subsp. monticola ((Prokudin) Tzvelev)
• Melica ciliata subsp. magnolii ((Godr. & Gren.) Husn.)
• Melica ciliata f. latifolia (Papp)
• Melica micrantha (Boiss. & Hohen.)
• Melica cretica var. laconiae (W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. graeca (W.Hempel)
• Melica cretica subsp. brachyantha ((Hack.) W.Hempel)
• Melica cretica f. laxiflora (W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. linnaei (Hack.)
• Melica ciliata f. flavescens ((Schur) Papp & Beldie)
• Melica ciliata subsp. glauca ((F.W.Schultz) Nyman)
• Melica ciliata var. macrostachya (Lecoq & Lamotte)
• Melica ciliata subvar. villiculmis (Bornm.)
• Melica ciliata f. planifolia (Papp)
• Melica magnolii (Godr. & Gren.)
• Melica pubescens (Desv.)
• Melica cretica var. balansae ((Boiss. & Balansa) W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. nebrodensis ((Parl.) Coss. & Durieu)
• Melica monticola (Prokudin)
• Melica ciliata subsp. taurica ((K.Koch) Tzvelev)
• Melica tineoi (Lojac.)
• Melica ciliata var. tomentella (Boiss.)
• Melica ciliata var. pallida (Lindem.)
• Melica simulans (Klokov)
• Melica ciliata f. puberula (Beck)
• Melica ciliata subsp. micrantha ((Boiss. & Hohen.) Soják)
• Melica linnaei (Hack. ex Papp)
• Melica cappadocica (Boiss.)
• Lasiagrostis variegata (G.Mey.)
• Melica cretica subsp. greuteri (W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. aequiglumis (Papp)
• Melica ciliata var. flavescens (Schur)
• Melica ciliata var. uniflora (Rion)
• Melica ciliata subsp. nebrodensis ((Parl.) Husn.)
• Melica ciliata var. arenicola (Kirschl.)
• Melica ciliata var. magnolii ((Godr. & Gren.) Hausskn.)
• Melica nebrodensis var. parlatorei (Asch. & Graebn.)
• Dalucum ciliatum ((L.) Bubani)
• Melica ciliata f. micrantha (W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata f. villiculmis ((Bornm.) W.Hempel)
• Melica glauca (F.W.Schultz)
• Melica cristata (Trin.)
• Melica benedictoi (Pau)
• Melica ciliata var. taurica ((K.Koch) Griseb.)
• Melica ciliata var. laxiflora ((Boiss. & C.I.Blanche) Papp)
• Melica ciliata var. violacea (Papp)
• Claudia ciliata ((L.) Opiz)
• Melica taurica subsp. monticola ((Prokudin) Prokudin)
• Melica ciliata var. intermedia (Rouy)
• Melica flavescens ((Schur) Simonk.)
• Melica ciliata f. pillata (Papp)
• Melica ceretana (Sennen)
• Melica cretica f. villigera ((Bornm.) W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. brachyantha (Hack.)
• Melica ciliata f. aequiglumis ((Papp) Papp & Beldie)
• Beckeria ciliata (Bernh. ex Rchb.)
• Melica ciliata var. rupestris (Trab.)
• Melica ciliata var. flaveola (W.Hempel)
• Melica provincialis (Clarion ex Steud.)
• Melica ciliata var. major (Ball)
• Melica ciliata var. biflora (Rion)
• Melica cretica var. major (W.Hempel)
• Arundo ciliata ((L.) Clairv.)
• Melica cretica (Boiss. & Heldr.)
• Melica ciliata f. nebrodensis ((Parl.) W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. vulgaris (Coss. & Durieu)
• Melica ciliata f. pappii (Soó)
• Melica nebrodensis var. magnolii ((Godr. & Gren.) Asch. & Graebn.)
• Melica ciliata f. simplex (Papp)
• Melica cretica subsp. laxiflora (W.Hempel)
• Melica ciliata var. bourgaei (Griseb. ex Pantoc)
• Melica bossieri (Reut. ex Boiss.)
• Melica ciliata var. latifolia (Papp)
• Melica ciliata f. hirtella (W.Hempel)
• Melica cretica subsp. monticola ((Prokudin) W.Hempel)
• Melica nebrodensis var. villigera (Bornm.)
• Melica taurica (K.Koch)
• Melica ciliata subsp. flavescens ((Schur) K.Richt.)
• Melica ciliata var. parlatorei (Papp)
• Melica ciliata var. elata (Rouy)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• South Australia (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Jun 17, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2018 by jeclerencia (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 20, 2020 by Fabienne Garcia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2021 by Reinhard Bachmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2021 by Prieta Javier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 17, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 12, 2019 by Joan Gorina Vanrell (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2021 by julie mauclert (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 21, 2022 by 1E F L F (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2022 by John Walsh (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 6, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 15, 2009 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2006 by Photoflora – Bernard TILLY (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jul 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2703124)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:407959-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Melica ciliata L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth