Muhlenbergia setifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 50–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths wider than blade at the collar; without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–7(–10) mm long. Leaf-blades curved, or curled; involute; 6–18(–25) cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 8–20(–25) cm long; 2–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2(–2.5) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–2(–2.5) mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–5 mm long; cartilaginous; yellow; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–28 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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