Muhlenbergia biloba

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal, or ovate; 3–7 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; scaberulous; tip pyriform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.25–0.33 of lemma length; obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 5–10 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface villous. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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