Muhlenbergia strictior

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 2 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; yellow; without keels. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4 mm long; membranous; yellow; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Jones 2002.

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