Muhlenbergia breviaristata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–15 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades convolute; 20–40 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 20–30 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 6–9 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic, or ovate; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or ovate; 1–2 mm long; 0.33–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 3–4 mm long overall; 1 length of lemma. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Parodi 1997.

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