Axonopus brasiliensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 20–60 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–23 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 3–11 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs white. Spikelet packing adaxial; lax; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.5–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins thickened. Upper glume surface villous; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume hairs white. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; with thickened veins; villous; with tubercle-based hairs; bearing white hairs; bearing hairs 1–4 mm long; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 2–3 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

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