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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Muhlenbergia emersleyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; robust; 100–150(–200) cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–25 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 23–40 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate, or pyramidal; 20–40 cm long; 4–7 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; (2.2–)2.5–3(–3.2) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic; 1–2 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous, or scabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 2.2–3.2 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous, or scabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 10–15 mm long overall; persistent, or deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma. Palea 0.8–0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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