Axonopus flexuosus

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Stolons present. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 25–112 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or conduplicate; 3–30 cm long; 5–22 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 3–5(–8); paired, or digitate; unilateral; 4–15 cm long. Rhachis angular; glabrous on surface; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.7–4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1.5 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pubescent; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.7–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: west tropical, west-central tropical, east tropical, and southern tropical.

NOTES Paniceae. FTEA.

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