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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Muhlenbergia microsperma
HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths papery. Culms 10–60(–70) cm long; disarticulating at the nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5(–2) mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous at the ligule; flat, or involute; 4–6(–10) cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; oblong; 5–20 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; bearing spikelets almost to the base.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; (2.5–)3–3.5(–4) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 0.5–1.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 0.5–1.2 mm long; 0.1–0.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; (2.5–)3–3.5(–4) mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 10–20(–30) mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.9 mm long.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2.2–2.5 mm long.
CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in lower sheaths.
DISTRIBUTION Pacific: north-central. North America: southwest USA and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.
NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
