Muhlenbergia andina

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms 35–60(–80) cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.6–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–16 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; interrupted; dense; 4–10(–13) cm long; 0.5–1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–4 mm long; 1–1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–3.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins; villous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 4–8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.4–1.5 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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