Axonopus capillaris

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; weak; 20–40 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm diam. Culm-internodes hollow. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 1.5–7 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 7–15 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; unilateral; 2–3.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3–0.5 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.6 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; 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; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 2 -veined; without midvein; puberulous. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.2–1.6 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma surface striate. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.4 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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