Axonopus passourae

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; robust; 120 cm long; 2–5 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths 20–40 cm long; keeled; pilose. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–40 cm long; 5–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 3 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 45–50 cm long.

Racemes 7–9; digitate; erect, or ascending; unilateral; 10–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 4–5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 6.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Pedicels reduced to a stump; ciliate; hairy at base; with 1–3 mm long hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.8–2 mm long; 0.8–0.9 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; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein obscure, or distinct.

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; 5–7 -veined; with obscure midvein, or with evident midvein. Fertile lemma 1.8–2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. 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.