Muhlenbergia breviligula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 75–140 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths wider than blade at the collar; keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 24–47 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; nodding; 30–50 cm long; 3–9 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 6–12 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–2.6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 7–17 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy below.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Soderstrom 1994.

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