Axonopus comans

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; slender; 50–70 cm long; 1–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 6–12 cm long; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 15–35 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; muticous, or pungent; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 20–50 cm long.

Racemes 2–5; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 3–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5(–4) cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.2–0.3 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; smooth on margins, or scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 3–4.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; glabrous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.9–1 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; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins; without hair tufts, or with an apical beard.

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; 5–7 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins; without hair tufts, or with conspicuous apical hairs. Fertile lemma 3.3 mm long; indurate; yellow, or light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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