Axonopus amapaensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; robust; 75–150 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths 4–30 cm long; keeled; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.7 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous at the ligule; 5–20 cm long; 5–8 mm wide; firm. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; with 1–4 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 30–70 cm long.

Racemes 5–9; digitate; ascending, or spreading; unilateral; 4–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–6 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5–7 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.9 mm long; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy between veins.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 1 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; prominently veined; pubescent; hairy at apex and at base. Fertile lemma 1.9 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.