Muhlenbergia eriophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms erect; 17–22 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; without keel; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–9 mm long. Leaf-blades curled; 10–20 cm long; 1.2–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; woolly; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–8 cm long; 0.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–3.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 20 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen 1994.

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