Muhlenbergia venezuelae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–35 cm long. Culm-internodes terete; scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths without keel; smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–10 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–12 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 8–9 cm long; 0.8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

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

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate; 2–2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 2–2.7 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 1 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Luces 1996.

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