Muhlenbergia torreyi (Kunth), Ring Muhly Habit: Perennial in loose tufts, the base decumbent or forming short rhizomes, usually in large patches or fairy rings. Culms: Slender, rigid, 10-30 cm. tall, erect or decumbent at the base, tufted. Blades: Crowded at the base, recurved or flexuous, mostly 2-3 cm. long, involute-setaceous, somewhat scabrous, forming a crisp curly cushion. Sheaths: Longer than the internodes. Ligule: Membranous, 4-6 mm. long. Inflorescence: 5-20 cm. long, usually half the entire length of the plant, exserted, finally open, purplish, the capillary branches finally spreading, pedicels as long or longer than the spikelets. Spikelets: Exclusive of the awn 2-3.5 mm. long, 1-flowered, flower perfect, rachilla disarticulating above the glumes. Glumes: Unequal, keeled, the first about 1.5 mm. long, the second 2 mm. long, awn-pointed. Lemmas: 2.5-3 mm. long, 3-nerved, nearly glabrous, tapering into delicate awn about 3 mm. long. Palea: Thin, about as long as the lemma, usually minutely 2-toothed. Habitat: Plains, mesas and foothills. July-October. Kansas Range: High plains, southwest fourth to Russell county. Synonyms: Muhlenbergia gracillima Torr.