Muhlenbergia argentea

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–45 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; lanceolate; nodding; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; simple. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid; acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblanceolate; 3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 6 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Vasey 2000.

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