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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Muhlenbergia eludens

HABIT Annual. Culms 10–35(–40) cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally hirsute. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths keeled; antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2.5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 1–8 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pubescent; hairy abaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 5–25 cm long; 7 cm wide; 0.6–0.7 of culm length. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 0.5–2 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2–2.5 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; 1–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1–2 mm long; 0.5–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy above. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.3–3.5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gould.

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