melic (melik)

[ The exact relation of melic poetry to the cantonal dialect. Amer. Jour . Philol ., VII. 234. Melica (mel'i-kä), n. [NL. (Linnæus, 1737), melic a , the great millet, millet, mel , mel , honey.] A genus of gra es of the tribe Festuceæ , type of the subtribe Melicea . The upper glumes are empty, and the spikelets are often quite large and erect or spreading. They are erect perennial plants, often tall, with usually slender panicles, and flat or convolute leaves. About 30 species are known, having a wide range over the globe, but mostly natives of temperate climates. They are handsome gra es, but of no great agricultural value, though some serve the purpose of pasturage. Melic -gra is a general name for the species. Meliceæ (me-lis'ē-ē), n. pl. [NL. (Bentham and Hooker, 1883), Melica + -еœ.] A subtribe of gra es of the tribe Festu ceæ. It includes 4 genera, of which Melica is the type, and about 36 species.