Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides (Grisebach) Peterson & Columbus
(Wolftail)
Family: Poaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Lycurus setosus (Nuttall) C. Reeder
Lycurus phleoides Kunth var. glaucifolius Beal
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides has leaf blades that end in a thin bristle that
can be up to a centimeter long. The panicle is made up of one flowered spikelets,
The first glume has two awns, the lemma has one. Muhlenbergia alopecuroides is densely tufted, in contrast to Muhlenbergia phleoides, a loosely tufted plant. The ligule of Muhlenbergia alopecuroides is acute, while that of M. phleoides is acuminate on either side with the central portion truncate.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, Oct. 14, 2007
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, detail of florets, photo Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris, Karen Blisard, and
Denise Friedrick, Georgetown Rd., Oct. 9, 2007
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, blade terminates in "slender hairlike bristle" (per Allred), photo Russ
Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, Nov. 14, 2007
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, ligule, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Hanover Canyon, Nov. 10, 2009
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, at anthesis, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Pinos Altos, September 10, 2012
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