Muhlenbergia flexuosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 15–25 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–3.5 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 20–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Peru 1995.

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