Muhlenbergia dubia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 30–100 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths without keel; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–12 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 25–60 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; grey-green. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 10–30 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 2–3 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–4 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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