Jepson Herbarium
The University and Jepson Herbaria
University of California, Berkeley
Jepson eFlora: Key page
Vascular Plants of California
Key to families | Table of families and genera

Key to Muhlenbergia

View taxon page for Muhlenbergia

(For a list of species in Muhlenbergia, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Annual

2. Lemma awned,  1–3 cm,  2.5–6 mm

3. Lemma generally 4.5–6 mm; inflorescence generally < 1.5 cm wide, branches closely glumes generally 1–2 mm ..... M. appressa

3' Lemma generally 2.5–4.5 mm; inflorescence 1–5 cm wide, branches  to ; glumes generally < 1 mm ..... M. microsperma (2)

2' Lemma short-awned, awn < 1 mm, or awn 0; lemma < 2.5 mm

4. Inflorescence narrow, < 1 cm wide; branches closely appressed; stems often rooting at lower  ..... M. filiformis (2)

4' Inflorescence open, 1.5–8 cm wide; branches , ascending to spreading; stems not rooting at lower nodes

5. Inflorescence branches stiffly spreading to reflexed ± 90° from axis; glumes glabrous teeth 2, 1 on each side ..... M. fragilis

5' Inflorescence branches ascending < 80° from axis;  tip short-hairy; ligule  to , irregularly short-toothed ..... M. minutissima

1' Perennial herb

6. Lemma awn 0 or short-awned, awn < 1 mm

7. Ligule 10–25 mm ..... M. emersleyi (3)

7' Ligule <= 5 mm

8. Inflorescence 5–14 cm wide, open, branches spreading ..... M. asperifolia

8' Inflorescence <= 4 cm wide, narrow, branches ascending to appressed, occasionally loosely spreading

9. Rhizomes creeping, ± scaly; stems ±  to 

10. Glumes 2.5–4 mm, ± = lemma; lower 1/2 lemma short-soft-hairy ..... M. californica (2)

10' Glumes 0.5–1.8 mm, ± 1/2 lemma; lemma glabrous to ± scabrous

11. Ligule generally 1–2.5 mm; inflorescence axis generally obscured by branches,  ..... M. richardsonis

11' Ligule generally < 1 mm; inflorescence axis generally visible between branches ..... M. utilis

9' Rhizomes 0; stems clumped or decumbent and ± rooting at nodes

12. Blade < 4 cm; lemma generally < 2 mm; stem generally < 3 dm ..... M. filiformis (2)

12' Blade >= 5 cm; lemma generally > 2.5 mm; stem 2–15 dm

13. Inflorescence <= 15 cm, 1.5–4 cm wide; branches loosely flowered ..... M. jonesii

13' Inflorescence 15–60 cm, <= 1.2 cm wide; branches densely flowered ..... M. rigens

6' Lemma awn 1–30 mm

14. Inflorescence open, 6–15 cm wide, branches spreading

15. Ligule 10–25 mm, ; inflorescence 20–45 cm;  20–50 cm, 2–6 mm wide; lemma 2–3 mm; stems stout, laterally  near base; glumes >= lemma ..... M. emersleyi (3)

15' Ligule 1–2.5(4) mm, truncate; inflorescence 4–14 cm; blade 2–8 cm, 0.5–2 mm wide; lemma 3–4.5 mm; stems wiry with rounded knotty base; glumes < lemma..... M. porteri

14' Inflorescence generally < 6 cm wide, branches ascending to appressed, occasionally spreading

16. Glumes 1 or 2, generally < 0.5 mm, vein 0 ..... [M. schreberi]

16' Glumes 2, generally > 0.5 mm, vein(s) evident

17. Rhizome generally scaly, creeping

18. Blade generally rolled, < 2 mm wide; anther purple, 1.5–3 mm

19. Lemma,  short-soft-hairy on lower 1/2; stems loosely clumped, decumbent ..... M. arsenei (2)

19' Lemma base sparsely short-hairy; palea glabrous to ± scabrous; stems erect, ± rooting at lower nodes ..... M. pauciflora (2)

18' Blade generally flat, >= 2 mm wide; anther yellow, generally <= 1.5 mm

20. Hairs at lemma base 2–3.5 mm ..... M. andina

20' Hairs at lemma base < 1.5 mm

21. Lemma awn generally < 2.2 mm; anther 1–1.5 mm ..... M. californica (2)

21' Lemma awn 2.5–9 mm; anther < 0.5 mm ..... M. mexicana

17' Rhizomes 0

22. Upper glume 3-veined, 3-toothed ..... M. montana

22' Upper glume generally 1-veined, obtuse, , or awned

23. Lower glume 2-veined, 2-awned; inflorescence 5–8 mm wide, spike-like, dense ..... M. alopecuroides

23' Lower glume 1-veined, with 1 awn or awnless; inflorescence 5–30 mm wide, dense to loose

24. Glumes 0.5–1 mm, obtuse; cleistogamous spikelets generally present in lowermost stem axils ..... M. microsperma (2)

24' Glumes generally 1.5–3.5 mm, acute, acuminate, or awned; cleistogamous spikelets 0

25. Inflorescence 20–45 cm; blade 20–50 cm, 2–6 mm wide; ligule 10–25 mm; lemma 2–3 mm; stems laterally compressed near base, without  ..... M. emersleyi (3)

25' Inflorescence 4–12 cm; blade 1–8 cm, 0.5–2 mm wide; ligule 1–2.5 mm; lemma 3.5–5 mm; stems rounded near base, often with short, knot-like rhizome

26. Lemma, palea short-soft-hairy on lower 1/2; stems loosely clumped, decumbent ..... M. arsenei (2)

26' Lemma base sparsely short-hairy; palea glabrous to ± scabrous; stems erect, ± rooting at lower nodes ..... M. pauciflora (2)

 

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) . Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on ]

Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on .

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