Hairy melic

Scientific name: Melica ciliata

Förekomst: Rather common

Hairy melic is rare in southeastern Sweden, but is quite common on Öland and Gotland. It grows on calcareous dry slopes, limestone mountains and in sparse forests on dry calcareous soil. It can hardly be confused with any other grass; the fuzzy rocker shines in backlight. It blooms in high summer.

Hairy melic benefit from reduced grazing, which is why it has increased in recent decades. The Swedish deposits are northern outposts of a Central and southern European distribution.

The species name ciliata comes from the Latin cilium (edge hair) and means 'with hair edge', which refers to the long-haired parts of the flower. The family name Melica comes from the Greek meline, a plant name that was probably used on sorghum (Sorghum).

Hairy melic hittar du på följande platser:

• Dröstorps alvar
• Gullehamns stenbrott
• Kustvägen Äleklinta-Sandvik
• Neptuni åkrar
• Resmozonen
• Solberga alvar
• Stora alvaret
• Triberga borg
• Vickleby alvar
• Österskogsvägen