Melica spectabilis
# Melica spectabilis

Melica spectabilis is a species of grass known by the common names purple oniongrass and showy oniongrass.

## Distribution

It is native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California to the Rocky Mountains, where it grows in moist meadows, forests, and other mountainous habitat.

## Description

Melica spectabilis is a perennial grass which varies in maximum height from under 10 centimetres (3.9 in) to nearly a meter, growing from rhizomes and stalked, onionlike corms. The inflorescence is a narrow series of spikelets which are green with evenly spaced purple bands.

