Muhlenbergia filiculmis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 15–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–8 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 3–6 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.7 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid; acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; mid-green and purple; mottled with last colour; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr SW US 1994.

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