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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Axonopus polystachyus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–120 cm long; 1–5 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths 15–30 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades ascending; linear, or lanceolate; 10–30 cm long; 10–30 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal, or terminal and axillary; with 1–4 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 25–50 cm long.

Racemes 2–20; digitate; ascending, or spreading; unilateral; 5–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3–0.5 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 4.8–7 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.2–2.3 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; 2–4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on veins.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; 1.1 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 2–4 -veined; without midvein; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on veins. Fertile lemma 2 mm long; indurate; pallid, or mid-green; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; pubescent (few hairs). 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.