Axonopus debilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; slender; 25–30 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths 2–7 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades spreading; straight, or curved; filiform, or linear; flat, or involute; 3–7 cm long; 0.7–1.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–3 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 5–15 cm long.

Racemes 2; paired; ascending; unilateral; 1.7–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–0.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; smooth on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 4–6 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; glabrous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.8 mm long; 0.5 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; purple; 2–4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 1.1 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 2–4 -veined; without midvein. Fertile lemma 1.6 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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