Muhlenbergia ramosa

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms erect; 35–90 cm long; 1–2.5 mm diam. Lateral branches ample; arising from upper culm. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 2–5 mm wide; stiff; dark green. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 8–15 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 -nate; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; glaucous and grey; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.75 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.8 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Koyama 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Rhizome scales not gibbous.

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