Muhlenbergia montana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations subterete, or flabellate. Culms 25–75(–80) cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–12(–20) mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–25 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; interrupted; dense; 8–20(–25) cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 0.2–1.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1.5 mm long; 0.4–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; grey; 1-keeled; 1(–3) -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–2 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; grey; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins distinct. Upper glume surface smooth to scabrous. Upper glume apex lobed; 3 -fid; setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; yellow to mid-green; concolorous, or suffused with last colour; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 6–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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