Muhlenbergia curtisetosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms decumbent; 20–70 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–1.1 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–8 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–9 cm long; 0.1–0.7 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 2.2–8.4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume 0.4–1.8 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of upper glume. Upper glume ovate; 0.8–1.9 mm long; 0.33–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.2–3.4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.9 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Man US Gr 2000.

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