Muhlenbergia ligularis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 4–8 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–2 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–2 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1–1.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1–1.3 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate; muticous. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, western South America, and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr Peru 1995.

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