Muhlenbergia gigantea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms robust; 150–300 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–10 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 70–100 cm long; 5–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, or scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 50–100 cm long; 30–60 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 15–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 1.3–2.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.3–2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.3–2.5 mm long; 1.3–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1–1.3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Nov Gal 1994.

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