Muhlenbergia gypsophila

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 2–8 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades curved; involute; 2–10 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 7.5–15 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous; hairy at apex. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 10–15 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Reeder 2001.

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