Molinia

Plants perennial; cespitose, not rhizomatous. Culms 15-250 cm, often disarticulating at the first node, basal internodes persistent, often swollen and clavate. Leaves mostly basal; ligules of hairs; blades flat or convolute, eventually disarticulating from the sheaths. Inflorescences terminal, panicles, not plumose. Spikelets laterally compressed, with (1)2-5 florets; rachilla prolonged beyond the distal florets, terminating in a rudimentary floret, internodes 1/3 – 1/2 as long as the florets, glabrous; disarticulation beneath the florets. Glumes exceeded by the florets, 1- or 3-veined; calluses 0.1-0.3 mm, blunt, glabrous or sparsely strigose, hairs to 0.5 mm; lemmas glabrous, inconspicuously 3(5)-veined, rounded over the back, acute to obtuse, unawned; paleas subequal to the lemmas; anthers 3. Caryopses falling free from the lemmas and paleas; pericarps loosely adherent, x = 9.

Distribution

Maine, N.J., Mass., Conn., N.Y., Wis., R.I., Vt., Pa., N.S., Ont., Que., Oreg.

Discussion

Molinia is a genus of two to five species, all of which are native to temperate Eurasia. One species is established in the Flora region.

Selected References

Dix, W.L. 1945. Will the stowaway, Molinia caerulea, become naturalized? Bartonia 23:41-42.

Lower Taxa

Molinia caerulea