Melica
melic, oniongrass
7 species
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Melica aristata – bearded melic grass
Distribution: Known historically in Washington from the Lewis River in Skamania County, but now best considered extirpated in Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry forest, rocky slopes, ridges, and ledges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Known historically in Washington from the Lewis River in Skamania County, but now best considered extirpated in Washington; southern Washington to California.
Habitat: Dry forest, rocky slopes, ridges, and ledges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Melica bulbosa – bulbous onion grass, bulbous oniongrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Habitat: Grassland, sagebrush, open forest, rocky slopes, and talus.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Habitat: Grassland, sagebrush, open forest, rocky slopes, and talus.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Melica fugax – small melic grass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Meadows, damp or dry slopes, open forest, and riparian zones.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Meadows, damp or dry slopes, open forest, and riparian zones.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Melica harfordii – Harford's melic grass
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and dry open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and dry open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Melica smithii – Smith's melic grass
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota; also in eastern Canada.
Habitat: Moist woods from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota; also in eastern Canada.
Habitat: Moist woods from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Melica spectabilis – showy melic grass
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana and Colorado.
Habitat: Usually in moist, loamy soil in meadows and open parks in mountain forests, but also dry to wet meadowlands and open forests to subalpine ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana and Colorado.
Habitat: Usually in moist, loamy soil in meadows and open parks in mountain forests, but also dry to wet meadowlands and open forests to subalpine ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Melica subulata – Alaska oniongrass
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Open slopes to thick, dry or moist woods, from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Open slopes to thick, dry or moist woods, from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
