Muhlenbergia alamosae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–70 cm long; wiry. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 6–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–2.5 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of fertile spikelet.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–3.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5(–1) mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; (1–)1.5–2 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–3.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn (5–)10–20 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.