Axonopus poiophyllus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms erect; 25–100 cm long; 2–3 mm diam.; 1–3 -noded. Culm-internodes hollow. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; keeled; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 13–33 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 6–25 cm long.

Racemes 3–7; digitate; unilateral; 5–11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–4 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5 mm wide; with scattered hairs; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.5–2.8 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1–2.5 mm long; 1–5 -veined. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy at base. Upper glume margins pubescent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; 2 -veined; without midvein; pubescent; hairy at base; pubescent on margins. Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.8 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Costaric 1993.

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