Muhlenbergia pubescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Butt sheaths villous. Culms erect; 80–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally hirsute. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 15–50 cm long; 2.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 20–40 cm long; 2–7 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–3 mm long; 0.5–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface villous. Lower glume hairs 0.5 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–3 mm long; 1–1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.8–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–10 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1997.

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