Muhlenbergia ciliata

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 15–25 cm long; 0.3 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample; arising from lower culm and mid culm. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades reflexed; conduplicate, or involute; 1.5–3 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 5–9 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 5–10 in number; spreading, or reflexed; 1 -nate; 1–2 cm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 0.7–1.2 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.1–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma margins ciliolate, or ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 7–17 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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