Muhlenbergia sericea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 70–160 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2(–10) mm long. Leaf-blades curved; involute; 40–100 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 30–70 cm long; 20–30 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.33 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 5–19 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–4(–5) mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1–3 mm long; incised 0.33–0.5 of lemma length; setaceously attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 11–26 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA and southeast USA.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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