Muhlenbergia ramulosa

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms decumbent; 5–15 cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm diam. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 1–2 cm long; 0.6–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary.

Panicle open; oblong; 1–5 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–1.2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4(–5) mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.4–0.6 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 0.4–0.6 mm long; 0.35–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 0 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1 mm long; cartilaginous; black; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; cartilaginous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.2 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Costa Rica 1994.

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