MELICA NUTANS. { Melica Montana, Flo.Ang.
Short-branched Melic.
Spec. C hak. Panicle inclining* footstalks as long, or twice as long, as the calyx*
calyx with two florets.
Melica nutans is a much rarer plant than the preceding species, at least in the southern regions,
and it appears chiefly to delight in the northern counties * almost all the high mountains in Scotland
.produce it, and it flourishes luxuriantly in that fine botanic station the Helks, at Ingieten, Yorkshire*
and we hear it is found in the woods at Malvern, Worcestershire.--------- Leaves rather short,
and upright* straw and sheathing roughish, and tetragonal* peduncles very short, seldom above
twice as long as the calyx they support* the lower ones have commonly two or three spiculae issuing
from them.--------- It is generally found that the inner valve o f the corolla, in most o f our grasses,
acts in conjunction with the outer one, only to wrap up or cradle the infant germ, but in these two
last species o f Melica the inner valve acts in a double capacity, by the edges bending back, and
forming a receptacle in which the abortive floret resides, and which has thus the security of a double
calyx.
A, the Calyx.
B, a set o f Florets.
C, the inner valve of the Corolla bending back at the edges, and inclosing
the unfertile rudiment.