Axonopus fastigiatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or elongated. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms 25–75 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; arising from lower culm. Leaf-sheaths 1–5 cm long; pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 3–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; with 1 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 10–20 cm long.

Racemes 1–2; single, or paired; erect, or ascending; straight; unilateral; 3–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–1 mm wide; dark-coloured (grey); glabrous on surface; smooth on margins, or scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 4–6 spikelets per cm.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 3.2–4.5 mm long; 0.5–0.8 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; 2–4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume hairs 0.5–2 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 1.1–1.5 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 2–4 -veined; without midvein. Fertile lemma 3 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate; 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.