Muhlenbergia vaginata

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived. Culms weak; 30–40 cm long; without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 1–3(–6) cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 1–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–2.5 mm long; scaberulous.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 0.7–0.8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex truncate to acuminate. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 0.7–0.8 mm long; 0.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex truncate to acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; 2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.6–0.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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