Melica spectabilis is a species of grass known by the common names purple oniongrass and showy oniongrass.

Melica spectabilis

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Melica
Species:
M. spectabilis
Binomial name
Melica spectabilis

Distribution

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It is native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California to the Rocky Mountains, where it grows in moist meadows, forests, and other mountainous habitat.

Description

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Melica spectabilis is a perennial grass which varies in maximum height from under 10 centimetres (3.9 in) to nearly a meter, growing from rhizomes and stalked, onionlike corms. The inflorescence is a narrow series of spikelets which are green with evenly spaced purple bands.

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