Smallflower Melicgrass
Melica imperfecta
- Native to:
- Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico, United States
National Museum of Natural History (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Melica
- Species:
- Melica imperfecta
- USDA Symbol:
- MEIM
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- green, purple
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal buds following fire; adapted to California's fire-prone chaparral and woodland ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Common in chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cool temperatures and consistent moisture after cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Soak seeds overnight in fresh water and cold stratify for 2 weeks in peat.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between April 15th and June 15th. Mature inflorescences are brown. Seed is tan at maturity. M. imperfecta is found in dry rocky places below 4,000 feet elevation; from Santa Clara and Eldorado counties south to Lower California and east to the Mojave Desert.
Source: npn.rngr.net