Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; robust; (50–)80–100(–150) cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8–15 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–45(–50) cm long; 2–3(–5) mm wide; light green, or glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 20–40 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic; 2–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; 2–3.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth to scabrous. Upper glume apex emarginate, or acute; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth to scabrous. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–4 mm long overall. Palea 0.8–0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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