Muhlenbergia capillipes

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; slender; 15–40 cm long; 0.2–0.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.8–2.8 mm long; erose, or lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–12 cm long; 0.6–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 10–21 cm long; 3.5–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1–3 -nate; 1–6 cm long. Panicle axis 18–32 noded.

Spikelets pendulous, or deflexed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.3–1.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; red; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; red; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.3–1.8 mm long; membranous; light brown, or red; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous. Palea lanceolate; 1.3–1.8 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea apex obtuse, or acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.6–1.3 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1–1.2 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Peterson 2000.

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