Melica rectiflora is a species of grass in the family Poaceae.[1] [2] It is native to Greece and Crete.[3]
The species is perennial with short rhizomes and 20– long culms. The leaf-sheaths are tubular and are closed on one end with its surface being glabrous. The leaf-blades surface is scaberulous and rough with its size being are 5– long by 2– wide. Eciliated membrane have a ligule which is truncate. The panicle is contracted, linear, 6– long. The main panicle branches are indistinct, scaberulous and are racemose.[3]
Spikelets are oblong, solitary, 4- long and have linear pedicels. Besides the pedicels, the spikelets have 1 fertile floret which is diminished at the apex. The sterile florets are 2–3 in number and are 2- long, barren, oblong and clumped. Both the upper and lower glumes are keelless, membranous, oblong and are purple coloured. Other features are different though; Lower glume is 3– long with an acute apex while the upper one is 4– long with an obtuse apex.[3]
Its lemma have smooth surface and an obtuse apex while the fertile lemma is chartaceous, elliptic, keelless, and 5– long. Its palea have thick keels and is elliptic and 2-veined. Flowers are fleshy, oblong and truncate with 2 lodicules. They also grow together and have 3 anthers which are 1.5- long. The fruits have caryopsis with additional pericarp and have linear hilum. They are also ellipsoid and are long.[3]