Axonopus laxus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; slender; 30–50 cm long; 4 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 7.5 cm long; narrower than blade at the collar; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–21 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 7–14 cm long.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; spreading; flexuous; unilateral; 5–6 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 7 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

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; 1.5–1.7 mm long; 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; pallid; 4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins.

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; pallid; 4 -veined; without midvein; pubescent; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma 1.5–1.7 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; without ornament. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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