Muhlenbergia speciosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Culm-internodes distally hirsute. Leaf-sheaths keeled; hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 30–50 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; equilateral, or nodding; 30–60 cm long; 4–10 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1.3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.4–2.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets, or exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.4–2.3 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume hairs 0.5 mm long. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.4–2.3 mm long; 1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume hairs 0.5 mm long. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.1–2.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–12 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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