Muhlenbergia curviaristata

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms erect; 50–110 cm long; 1.8–2.5 mm diam.; 6–9 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse; arising from mid culm. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 8–20 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–35 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 2–4 -nate. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.5–0.6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; membranous; glaucous and grey; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved; 3–4(–10) mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Koyama 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Rhizome scales gibbous.

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