Muhlenbergia curtifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 25–45 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths pubescent to hirsute. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades spreading; 1–2.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pubescent to hirsute. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3.5 mm long; 0.66–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–3 mm long overall. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy below.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2–2.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr SW US 1994.

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