Taxon Details

Melica spectabilis

purple onion grass

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Taxon Summary:

Melica spectabilis, commonly known as purple onion grass, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Poaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1200 to 2600 meters. Melica spectabilis is ranked 4.3, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Not very threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Melica spectabilis Scribn.
Common Name: purple onion grass
Family:	Poaceae
Element Code:	PMPOA3X0G0
USDA Plants Symbol:	MESP
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.3
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S4
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1988-01-01
Date Edited:	2022-03-01

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb

Blooming Period: May-Jul

Elevation:
1200 - 2600 meters
3935 - 8530 feet

General Habitats:

Lower montane coniferous forest
Meadows and seeps
Upper montane coniferous forest

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Mesic

Notes

Notes:
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	0
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	0	0 %

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					0
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	0	0	0	0	0

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	0
Recent <=20 Years	0

Presence:
Presumed Extant	0
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Colorado (CO), Idaho (ID), Montana (MT), Nevada (NV), Oregon (OR), Utah (UT), Washington (WA), Wyoming (WY)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS), Plumas (PLU)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Ash Valley (4112016), Grizzly Valley (3912085)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory