Axonopus centralis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 35–80 cm long; 1.5–3 mm diam. Culm-internodes solid. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.8 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades 8–50 cm long; 8–13 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle nodding; 10–27 cm long; pubescent above.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or borne along a central axis; unilateral; 7–13 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–6 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.7 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 ovate; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; 3.4–3.6 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; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins excurrent. Upper glume margins pubescent. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 3 -veined; pubescent on margins; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.9–2.2 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.4–1.6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, northern South America, and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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