Pine Muhly
Muhlenbergia dubia

Family: Poaceae

Densely tufted perennial usually about 2x2’ though it has the potential to reach 3’—this species resembles deergrass (M. rigens), but is much smaller and differs in having looser, contracted (but not spikelike) panicles, longer ligules, olivaceous anthers, and generally longer lemmas.. A good mounding grass for tidy landscapes.

Full to filtered sun, moderate water.

Muhlenbergia is named for Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815) a clergyman and botanist from Pennsylvania. The specific epithet, dubia, means doubtful or not conforming to a pattern, as in the sense of not conforming to what is thought normal for a Muhlenbergia. There are 180 species of Muhlenbergia with the greatest number native to the southwestern United States and Mexico; there are also native species in Canada, Central and South America and in Asia.

Found on slopes, along draws and on ridgetop, occasionally on limestone soils from 5,000-7,500 ft. in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and south into Mexico.

Photo by Chuck Sexton, iNaturalist
Muhlenbergia dubia on SEINET