Awned melic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Awned melic |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melica
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| Species: |
aristata
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Melica aristata is a type of grass that grows in the wild. People often call it awned melic or bearded melicgrass. It's known for a special part of its flower that looks like a tiny beard!
Where It Grows
Melica aristata is a native plant, meaning it naturally grows in certain areas. You can find it in the western United States. It grows from the Pacific Northwest all the way down to the Sierra Nevada mountains. This grass likes to live in mountain forests. It also grows on open hillsides where there is plenty of sunshine.
What It Looks Like
Melica aristata is a perennial grass. This means it grows back year after year from underground stems. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) high. The flowers of this grass grow in a narrow cluster. These clusters are made of many small, tube-shaped parts called spikelets. Each spikelet has a long, bristle-like part called an awn. This awn can be up to 1.2 centimeters long. This "beard" or awn is what helps tell Melica aristata apart from other types of melic grasses.
