Axonopus elegantulus

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose. Stolons present. Culms 25–75 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths 2–25 cm long; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 30–60 cm long.

Racemes 2–12; digitate; ascending, or spreading; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–3 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4–0.6 mm wide; dark-coloured (green or purple); glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs 0.3–1.5 mm long. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5.5–7.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; hirsute.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; 0.2–0.5 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse, or subacute; 1.8–2.5 mm long; 0.6–0.9 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; mid-green, or purple; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or obscure.

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; mid-green, or purple; 2–3 -veined; without midvein, or with obscure midvein. Fertile lemma 1.8–2.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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