Muhlenbergia longiglumis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 7–15 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 20–30 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; equilateral, or nodding; 20–40 cm long; 1–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous; glabrous, or puberulous. Lower glume apex attenuate, or setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous; glabrous, or puberulous. Upper glume apex attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; dorsally compressed; 5.5–6.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate; hairy at base. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–65 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2.3–2.6 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.