Axonopus chaseae

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms erect; 45–50 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 2–15 cm long; keeled. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades ascending; straight, or curved; conduplicate; 2–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 5–7 cm long.

Racemes 3–5; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 3–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.4–2 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 3.5–4 spikelets per cm.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.3–0.4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.2–2.5 mm long; 0.7 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Upper glume 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume margins tuberculate; ciliate.

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; 3–5 -veined; tuberculate on margins; ciliate on margins. Fertile lemma 2.2–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; 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.