Muhlenbergia utilis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms slender; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades spreading; filiform; involute; 5–20 cm long; 0.4–0.6(–1) mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; interrupted; 1–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.6–2 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 ovate; 0.6–1(–1.3) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.6–1(–1.3) mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 1.6–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above and on veins. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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