Muhlenbergia hintonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 27–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths without keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 9–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; distant; 2–4.5 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.6–2.8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex dentate; 2 -fid; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2.6–2.8 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3.5–5 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Swallen 2002.

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