Muhlenbergia reederorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100 cm long; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–15 mm long; scarious; brown; lacerate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 30–65 cm long; 1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 30–47 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 4–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1.5–2.5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–4.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–4.6 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 0–1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or obscure. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.2–2.5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Soderstrom 1994.

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