Tridentopsis mutica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–80 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 6–25 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–20(–25) cm long; 0.3–0.8 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–5.5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3.5–5.5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins close to margins; extending close to apex. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; emarginate, or obtuse; muticous. Palea straight; 0.66–0.75 length of lemma. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; 2–2.3 mm long; reticulate.

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

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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