Muhlenbergia straminea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms erect; 50–80 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheaths without keel; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–12 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 50–80 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 4–7 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above; villous; hairy below. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–15 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Hitchcock 2002.

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