Muhlenbergia durangensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; without keel; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–30 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–25 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–3 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.5–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–7.5 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or flexuous; 10–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2.5–3.5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Herrera 2002.

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