Muhlenbergia alopecuroides

Muhlenbergia alopecuroides, synonyms including Lycurus setosus, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to the south western United States and northern Mexico, as well as to northern Argentina. It was first described by August Grisebach in 1874 as Lycurus alopecuroides. It is commonly known as the bristly wolfstail.

Description
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides is a perennial mountain grass with a tufted habit. The erect stems have several nodes and grow from 30 cm to 50 cm in height and may have a few branches. The leaf blades are glabrous and grow up to 10 cm long but only 2 mm wide. They are rough or bristly and have a white midrib below. The flower panicles are 4 cm to 8 cm long and about 8 mm wide. They are also bristly. It can be distinguished from the rather similar common wolfstail (Muhlenbergia phleoides) by the erect culms, longer ligules and differently shaped tips to the upper leaves.

Habitat and range
Muhlenbergia alopecuroides grows at altitudes of between 570 m and 3400 m. It is found on arid, free draining land, on mesas and rocky slopes. It occurs in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. A separate population occurs in northern Argentina.