Species: Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) A.S. Hitchc.

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Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) A.S. Hitchc.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Poaceae

Genus:

Muhlenbergia

Species Synonyms:

Muhlenbergia comata (Thurb.) Thurb. ex Benth.

Common Names:

foxtail muhly

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

central Saskatchewan, west-central Manitoba

Saskatchewan:

central Saskatchewan; Prince Albert National Park area

Ecoregion:

Mid-Boreal Upland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

gravel lake shores and moist meadows

Associated Species:

Baltic rush, golden sedge, northern reedgrass

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 N1 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Foxtail muhly is endangered in Saskatchewan because it is extremely rare and has only been found in one location. Immediate threats have been identified for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

25 – 85 cm

Roots:

rhizomes elongated, scale, wiry

Stems:

perennial, ascending, internodes mostly hairless, rough-hairy below the nodes

Leaves:

blades 4 – 15 cm long, 2 – 4 mm wide, flat, rough-hairy underneath; sheaths rough-hairy; ligules 0.5 – 1.5 mm long, membranous, square

Inflorescence:

branched, 2 – 15 cm long, 0.5 – 3 cm wide, spike-like, contracted, branches strongly ascending

Spikelets:

2 – 4 mm long

Flowers:

glumes equal to subequal, 2 – 4 mm long, 1-nerved, tip long pointed to awned; hardened thickening at base of lemma hairy; lemmas 2 – 3.5 mm long, lance-shaped, greyish-green, awned; awn 1 – 10 mm; paleas 2 – 3.5 mm long, lance-shaped, long-pointed

Fruits:

grain yellowish-brown

MUHLENBERGIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Plants tufted, rhizomes absent	M. cuspidata
1 Plants rhizomatous	2

2 Inflorescence open, 4 – 20 cm wide; spikelets with long stalks	M. asperifolia
2 Inflorescence contracted, 0.2– 3 cm wide; spikelets short stalked or sessile	3

3 Blades less than 2 mm wide; inflorescence narrowly linear, not more than 2 mm wide	M. richardsonii
3 Blades 2 – 15 mm wide; inflorescence not as narrow, usually 5 mm wide or more	4

4 Glumes with or without awns; lemmas awned, hairs at base of lemma conspicuous	M. andina
4 Glumes with awns; lemmas not awned, hairs at base of lemma inconspicuous	5

5 Internodes with a covering of short hairs; stems rarely branched above the base; ligule less than 0.6 mm long; sheath not boat-shaped	M. glomerata
5 Internodes smooth; stems much branched above the base; ligules greater than 0.6 mm long; sheath boat-shaped	M. racemosa