Muhlenbergia richardsonis

Mat Muhly

Field view of Mat Muhly.

Typical growth form is a mat of tangled leaves with thin spike-like seedheads.

The condensed panicles have few spikelets. The plant is usually under a foot tall.

Field view of old matted growth.

The spikelets have no awns. Sometimes there are two florets per spikelet, rare for Muhlys.

Typical of perennials, roots are rhizomatous and leaves are thick with last year's growth.

How to Identify Mat Muhly

  Mat Muhly is perennial and has many rhizomes. It forms a low mat of grass with stems not over a foot tall. The seedhead is short and narrow, often so thick with branches that you can't see the rachis. The grass blades can be 1/2 inch wide. There can be two florets per spikelet.

Similar Species

  Muhlenbergia filiformis is similar but is an annual, and so it has no rhizomes and is not thick with last year's growth.