Muhlenbergia brandegei

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–25 cm long. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths smooth to antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7–1 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 3–7 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–10 cm long; 0.5–0.7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 3–4.5 mm long; 1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous; scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 5–8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.4–1.8 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Baja Cal 1994.

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