Muhlenbergia schreberi

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 10–30 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long; scaberulous.

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

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 0.1–0.2 mm long; 0.05–0.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 20–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus. North America: eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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