Muhlenbergia repens

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms decumbent; 6–25(–35) cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades curved; involute; 1–3(–5) cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 1–4 cm long; 0.2–0.3 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 1.3–3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.3–3 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.2–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; grey; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex attenuate; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.3–1.5 mm long.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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