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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Muhlenbergia torreyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–30(–40) cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5(–7) mm long. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; involute; 1–3(–4) cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 7–20 cm long; 4–12 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading.

Spikelets appressed, or ascending; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 2.5–4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5(–3) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5–2.5(–3) mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2(–3) mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.4–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, north-central USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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