Muhlenbergia palmirensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes absent, or short. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 10–25 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; entire, or lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades curved; conduplicate; 1.5–2.5 cm long; 1 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface papillose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; continuous, or interrupted; secund; 3–6 cm long; 0.3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1.2–1.5 cm long. Panicle axis hispidulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.5–1.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1.2–1.4 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 11–12; 0.8 mm long; red.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; isodiametric; 0.8 mm long. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Ecuador 2002.

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