Home/Species/ Western Melicgrass

Melica bulbosa

Geyer ex Porter & Coult.

Western Melicgrass

G5Secure Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

UnknownThreat Impact

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.151388

Element CodePMPOA3X030

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVascular Plant

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomPlantae

PhylumAnthophyta

ClassMonocotyledoneae

OrderCyperales

FamilyPoaceae

GenusMelica

Other Common Names

Mélique bulbeuse (FR) oniongrass (EN) Oniongrass (EN) Western Oniongrass (EN)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Conservation Status

Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2

Review Date2023-09-11

Change Date1988-02-24

Edition Date2023-07-17

Edition AuthorsEberly (2023)

Threat ImpactUnknown

Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences> 300

Rank Reasons

Melica bulbosa is a wide ranging perennial grass occurring across much of the western United States and southwestern Canada in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. With a large range extent, over 300 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.

Range Extent Comments

Melica bulbosa occurs throughout the western United States but as far north as Saskatchewan and British Columbia in southwestern Canada. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023 (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023, SEINet 2023).

Occurrences Comments

By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023, it is estimated that there are close to 400 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023, SEINet 2023). As a grass species, it is likely underreported and even more common than shown by data.

Threat Impact Comments

Threats to this species are not well documented.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species is found on stream banks or in open woods on dry, well-drained or rocky slopes, often in conifer forests, at elevations ranging from 370 to 3,400 meters (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2007a).

Reproduction

This species spreads through rhizomatous growth.

Terrestrial Habitats

Forest/WoodlandForest - Conifer

Palustrine Habitats

Riparian

Other Nations (2)

CanadaN4

Province	Rank	Native
Saskatchewan	S1	Yes
British Columbia	S4	Yes

United StatesN5

Province	Rank	Native
Idaho	SNR	Yes
Wyoming	S5	Yes
Utah	SNR	Yes
Nevada	S3	Yes
South Dakota	S1	Yes
Colorado	S3	Yes
California	SNR	Yes
Washington	SNR	Yes
Texas	SNR	Yes
Oregon	SNR	Yes
Montana	S4	Yes

Plant Characteristics

DurationPERENNIAL

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (10)

Montana (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Big Baldy	Lewis and Clark National Forest	43,135

Nevada (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Humboldt - Angel Lk	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	1,008
Jarbidge - Biroth Rdg	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	4,887
Jarbidge - Canyon Ck	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	3,258
Jarbidge - Slide Ck	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	752
South Schell	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	125,614

Utah (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Big Bear Creek	Manti-Lasal National Forest	28,440

Washington (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Pasayten Rim	Okanogan National Forest	17,074

Wyoming (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Cow Creek Mountain	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	8,276
Laramie Peak	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	28,608

References (5)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2007a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 24. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 1. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxviii + 911 pp.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2023. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2023).