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:

Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa, Carex aurea, Juncus balticus

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 N1 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Muhlenbergia andina 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 glabrous, scabrous below the nodes

Leaves:

blades 4 – 15 cm long, 2 – 4 mm wide, flat, abaxially scabrous; sheaths scabrous; ligules 0.5 – 1.5 mm long, membranous, truncate

Inflorescence:

panicle 2 – 15 cm long, 0.5 – 3 cm wide, spicate, contracted, branches strongly ascending

Spikelets:

2 – 4 mm long

Flowers:

glumes equal to subequal, 2 – 4 mm long, 1-nerved, apex acuminate to awned; callus hairy lemmas 2 – 3.5 mm long, lanceolate, greyish-green, awned; awn 1 – 10 mm; paleas 2 – 3.5 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate

Fruits:

caryopsis yellowish-brown

MUHLENBERGIA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

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

2 Panicle open, 4 – 20 cm wide; spikelets with long pedicels	M. asperifolia
2 Panicle contracted, 0.2– 3 cm wide; spikelets short pedicellate or sessile	3

3 Blades less than 2 mm wide; panicle narrowly linear, not more than 2 mm wide	M. richardsonii
3 Blades 2 – 15 mm wide; panicle 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 puberulent; stems rarely branched above the base; ligule less than 0.6 mm long; sheath not keeled	M. glomerata
5 Internodes smooth; stems much branched above the base; ligules greater than 0.6 mm long; sheath keeled	M. racemosa