Muhlenbergia articulata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–7 mm long; scarious; obtuse. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; involute; 20–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 30–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate, or setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 20–40 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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