Axonopus longispicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long; 1–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 3–10 cm long; wider than blade at the collar. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades spreading; 10–20 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; sparsely hairy. Leaf-blade apex obtuse, or abruptly acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–4 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 25 cm long.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; erect, or ascending; unilateral; 5–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–3 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 4.5–6 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–0.3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse, or subacute; 3–3.9 mm long; 0.7 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface pubescent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 2 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; obscurely veined; pubescent. Fertile lemma 1.6–2 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, northern South America, and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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