Muhlenbergia virletii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths keeled; smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–12 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 30–40 cm long; 2.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or oblong; 29–55 cm long; 1.5–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 6–16.5 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.7–2 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume hairs 0.5 mm long. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; dark green; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.7–3.8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. 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. Soderstrom 1997.

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