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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 flabellata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms decumbent; 25–45 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades involute; 2–4 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; antrorsely scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle angular (ribbed); 9–18 cm long; antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–9 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4(–5) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; disarticulating transversely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or obovate; 2.2–2.6 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins parallel at apex; all extending to apex. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 3 -fid; truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; black; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 4–7.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.8–2.1 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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