Muhlenbergia subaristata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths subequal to internodes; without keel; antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flexuous; involute; 15–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 25 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; 1–5 mm long; pubescent; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume obovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous; pubescent; hairy at apex. Lower glume apex erose; acute. Upper glume obovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.25–0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface scabrous; pubescent; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; purple; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–2 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen 2002.

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