Scientific Name
Melica subulata (Griseb.) Scribn.
Common Name(s)
Alaska oniongrass
Tribe / Family Name
Meliceae
Flowering Period
June to August
Symbol
MESU
Description
Alaska oniongrass is a native cool-season perennial that is tufted with bulbous bases clustered on short rhizomes. Culms range from 55–125 cm in height. Its inflorescence is an appressed panicle that is 8–25 cm long with a nodding or drooping appearance. Spikelets are 10–28 mm long and loosely 2- to 5-flowered. Glumes are acute, narrow, papery, obscurely nerved, and unequal (lower glumes 4–8 mm, 1- to 3-nerved; upper glumes 5.5–11.5 mm long, 3- to 5-nerved). Lemmas are 5.5–18 mm long, prominently 7- to 9-nerved (nerves usually strigose), and strongly tapering to a sharp, acuminate point. Awns are absent. Sheaths are closed almost to the top, retrorsely scabrous, and often pilose. Auricles are absent. Ligules are 0.4–5 mm long, membranous, acute, erose, and glabrous. Blades are 2–10 mm wide, flat, scabridulous, glabrous or with hairs above, and smooth or scabridulous below.
General Info
Alaska oniongrass can be found in moist understories, shady slopes or woods, along streambanks, and montane to subalpine sites.
Similar Species
Alaska oniongrass is very distinctive and probably won’t be confused with other grasses. Its narrow, drooping seed heads and wider leaf blades will help distinguish it from other Melica species.
Picture of growth habit. Note the bulbous base at the bottom of the plant. This perennial plant can be tufted or with short rhizomes.
Close-up picture of appressed-panicle inflorescences.
Close-up picture of spikelet.
Close-up picture of membranous ligule.
Close-up picture of bulbous base.
Illustration of Alaska oniongrass. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. <i>Manual of the grasses of the United States</i>. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 200. Washington, DC.