Muhlenbergia bushii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms 30–90 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample; arising from upper culm. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10(–15) cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary. Peduncle 1–2 cm long.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–15 cm long; 0.1–0.4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.6–3.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.4–2(–2.5) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.4–2(–2.5) mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate, or attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.6–3.3 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy at base. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–7 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.6 mm long; brown.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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