Axonopus pellitus

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with curly dead sheaths. Culms robust; 200 cm long; 2–7 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 10–60 cm long; without keel; hirsute. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking, or ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–1 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–75 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; densely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 30–75 cm long.

Racemes numerous; 25–50; borne along a central axis; ascending; unilateral; 9–18 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 7–18 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3–0.5 mm wide; drab, or dark-coloured (purple); glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5–9 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–0.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.5–2.5 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy between veins.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 1–1.2 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; 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.