Muhlenbergia brevivaginata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms 10–40 cm long; wiry. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 8–15 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–20(–30) fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 1–3.5(–4) cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–6(–10) mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5.5 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 lanceolate, or ovate; 1.3–2.4 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; (4–)4.5–5.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 3–8 mm long overall. Palea 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2.2–2.7(–3) mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal.

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