Melica frutescens
Woody melic, Woody Melic
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Melica frutescens (Woody melic) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by southern range and branching stems diagnostic.
Woody melic is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, southern Coast Ranges, southern California Coast, Western Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, White and Inyo Mountains, and Deserts in dry slopes, scrub, chaparral, and woodland habitats at elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale, translucent spikelets with delicate flowers 9 to 18 millimeters long. Growing with branching stems 40 to 200 centimeters tall that emerge from the base, it has an open, sprawling form characteristic of woodland grasses. Its leaves are sparse, typically 3 to 5 per stem, with narrow blades 3 to 9 centimeters long and 1.5 to 5 millimeters wide. The plant's spikelets feature 3 to 5 bisexual florets with rounded to acute lemma tips, creating a distinctive grassy texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 7 species; southern range and branching stems diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, scrub, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 300-1500 m
California counties: San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Fresno, Trinity, Mendocino, Nevada, Lake, Tehama, Santa Barbara, Sonoma
Outside California: Arizona, Baja California
Bloom period
Melica frutescens blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Oloptum: Melica has club-shaped sterile floret tips; Oloptum has normal pointed spikelets and needle-like rolled leaves.; vs Poa: Melica has club-shaped sterile florets at tips; Poa has all fertile florets and boat-shaped lemmas with cobwebby hairs.; vs Lolium: Melica has club-shaped floret tips and closed leaf sheaths; Lolium has edgewise spikelets and split leaf sheaths.; vs Festuca: Melica has club-shaped sterile florets; Festuca has all fertile florets and open (split) leaf sheaths.; vs Ehrharta: Melica has club-shaped sterile florets at top; Ehrharta has hardened sterile florets at bottom of spikelet.
Frequently asked questions
Is Melica frutescens native to California?
Yes. Melica frutescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Melica frutescens bloom?
Melica frutescens blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Melica frutescens grow?
Melica frutescens occurs in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Imperial, Inyo, San Luis Obispo, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 300-1500 m.
What plant family does Melica frutescens belong to?
Melica frutescens is in the Poaceae family, genus Melica.
What habitat does Melica frutescens grow in?
Melica frutescens grows in dry slopes, scrub, chaparral, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.