Muhlenbergia distichophylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms robust; 100–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths keeled; pubescent. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 10–15 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 30–75 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 30–50 cm long; 5–15 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; obtuse; 1.5–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–1.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3.5 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.5–2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–16 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.2–1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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