Melica bulbosa Geyer ex Porter & J.M. Coult.
Western Onion Grass (oniongrass)
Poaceae (Grass family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Western Onion Grass (oniongrass)
Poaceae (Grass family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Species Information
General:
Perennial, strongly tufted grass from short, thick rhizomes, bulbous-based, the bulbs closely clustered on the rhizomes and not readily separable, not remaining attached; stems erect, 30-100 cm tall.
Leaves:
Sheaths usually closed almost their full length, minutely rough to strongly crisp- or spreading-hairy; blades minutely rough- to crisp-hairy, 2-4 (5) mm wide, flat to somewhat in-rolled; ligules usually open in front, jagged, smooth or rarely minutely rough-hairy, (2) 3-4 (6) mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Summer
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Melica bulbosa
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
1130 | 630 | 1504 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
25 | 0 | 60 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
199 | 60 | 260 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
3 | 2 | 5 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
8 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
ICH(2), IDF(3), MS(3) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Mesic to dry meadows, grassy slopes or shrublands in the steppe to subalpine zones; rare in S BC in and east of the Coast-Cascade mountains; disjunct E to SK and S to TX, CO, UT, NV and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Melica bulbosa var. bulbosa Geyer ex Porter & Coult.