Introduced

A. brachychaetum (Godr.) Barkworth

Stem 4–10 dm
Leaf: sheath glabrous; blade 1–2 mm wide
Inflorescence 20–30 cm
Spikelet: glumes 6–8 mm, ± equal; floret 4.5–5.5 mm; callus blunt; lemma tip hairs 0.8–1.7 mm, > body hairs, awn 15–20 mm, bent twice
Ecology: Disturbed sites
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: nw San Joaquin Valley (eradicated from San Joaquin Valley in Fresno Co.), n South Coast
Distribution outside California: native to Argentina
Synonyms: Stipa b. Godr
Weedy.

Native

M. californica Scribn.

CALIFORNIA MELIC

Rhizomes short or 0; corms generally 0
Stem 5–13 dm; base generally swollen; lowest 1–2 internodes short; nodes ± swollen
Inflorescence 4–30 cm, narrow
Spikelet 5–15 mm; glumes subequal, 3.5–13 mm; fertile florets 2–5, sterile cluster 1–3 mm, truncate; lemma 5–9 mm, tip obtuse or notched
Chromosomes: n=9
Ecology: Open hillsides, oak woodland, coniferous forest
Elevation: < 2100 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Central Western California, Western Transverse Ranges.Plants with glumes < spikelet, glume tips obtuse are var. californica ; plants with glumes ± = spikelet, glume tips acute have been called var. nevadensis Boyle
Horticultural information: DRN: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 &SUN: 5, 15, 16, 17, 24; also STBL.

Introduced

M. sinensis Andersson

Stems densely clumped, < 3 m
Leaf: blade 4–10 dm, 6–10 cm wide, margin serrate to smooth
Inflorescence 1–3 dm, fan-shaped
Spikelets 3–4 mm; lower spikelet stalk 1–2 mm, upper spikelet stalk 3–6 mm, hairs > spikelet; lower glume leathery, upper papery; awn 8–12 mm
Ecology: Irrigation ditches
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Sierra Nevada Foothills (El Dorado Co.)
Distribution outside California: native to se Asia

 

Sorry, not found as entry in The Jepson Manual