Muhlenbergia involuta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 60–140 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–12 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–40(–45) cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 18–40 cm long; 2–5(–7) cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 3–10(–15) cm long. Panicle branches straight.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–2.5(–3) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5(–3) mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma margins eciliate, or pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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