Muhlenbergia jonesii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; slender; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–2 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex entire, or erose; obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 mm long; 0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex entire, or erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate, or attenuate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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