Axonopus andinus

HABIT Perennial. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 65–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 1–9 cm long; keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 3–18 cm long; 10–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 20–45 cm long.

Racemes 5–7; digitate; spreading; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; glabrous, or pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; 0.2–0.4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–2.6 mm long; 0.8 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; pallid; 2–4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface puberulous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 1.2 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; pallid; 2–4 -veined; without midvein; puberulous. Fertile lemma 2–2.1 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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