Muhlenbergia jaliscana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 25–50 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 1–10 mm long; scaberulous; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; 5–5.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–20(–28) mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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