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Mathews, Ray

Muhlenbergia dubia

Muhlenbergia dubia Fourn. ex Hemsl.

Pine Muhly

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: MUDU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

The genus of this plant is named for Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815), also Heinrich Ludwig Muehlenberg, or Henry Muhlenberg, who was a German-educated Lutheran minister and the first president of Franklin College, now Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania. He is most famous due to his work in the field of botany. An accomplished botanist, chemist, and minerologist, Henry is credited with classifying and naming 150 species of plants in his 1785 work Index Flora Lancastriensis. Muhlenberg's work and collaboration with European botanists led to great advances in the study of plants and earned him the distinction as America's first outstanding botanist.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Habitat: Found on rocky slopes in the Trans-Pecos mountains at elevations 5,000-7,000 feet.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Wonderful small grass that will not seed out everywhere and it makes a nice mass effect when planted in groups. Leaves are stiff and rather upright giving the plant a tidy, formal appearance that is somehow soft at the same time. It is like a small version of the Big muhly, and used in the garden in similar ways.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Seed Collection: Collect seed in late fall, winter.
Seed Treatment: Start in cool weather. Low germination rate.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Trimming of native muhly grasses
February 11, 2008
Do pine muhly, gulf muhly, and bull muhly need an "annual haircut"? I started wondering after reading that Lindheimer's muhly does not have to be cut back each year. I cut back all my non-muhly n...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Additional resources

USDA: Find Muhlenbergia dubia in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Muhlenbergia dubia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Muhlenbergia dubia

Metadata

Record Modified: 2017-10-25
Research By: TWC Staff, MAC

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