Muhlenbergia ligulata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–10 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–25 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 2–10 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 mm long; 0.6–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; keeled above; 3 -veined. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; male, or barren; lanceolate; 2 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.4–1.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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