Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, synonyms including Lycurus setosus, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to the south western United States and northern Mexico, as well as to northern Argentina.[1] It was first described by August Grisebach in 1874 as Lycurus alopecuroides.[2] It is commonly known as the bristly wolfstail.
Description
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides is a perennial mountain grass with a tufted habit. The erect stems have several nodes and grow from 30 cm (12 in) to 50 cm (20 in) in height and may have a few branches. The leaf blades are glabrous and grow up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long but only 2 mm (0.1 in) wide. They are rough or bristly and have a white midrib below. The flower panicles are 4 cm (1.6 in) to 8 cm (3.1 in) long and about 8 mm (0.3 in) wide. They are also bristly. It can be distinguished from the rather similar common wolfstail (Muhlenbergia phleoides) by the erect culms, longer ligules and differently shaped tips to the upper leaves.[3]
Habitat and range
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides grows at altitudes of between 570 m (1,870 ft) and 3,400 m (11,200 ft). It is found on arid, free draining land, on mesas and rocky slopes. It occurs in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico.[3] A separate population occurs in northern Argentina.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Muhlenbergia alopecuroides (Griseb.) P.M.Peterson & Columbus", Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2024-06-13
- ^ "Muhlenbergia alopecuroides (Griseb.) P.M.Peterson & Columbus", The International Plant Names Index, retrieved 2024-06-13
- ^ a b Lycurus setosus (Nutt.) C. Reeder Grass Manual on the Web. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
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