Axonopus pubivaginatus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 75–100 cm long; 1–4 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 7–45 cm long; keeled; pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–50 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 30–90 cm long.

Racemes 5–20; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 5–20 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3–0.7 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5–6.5 spikelets per cm.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; 0–0.7 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; subacute; 2.2–3.1 mm long; 0.7–1 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; 1.1–1.2 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; pubescent; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma 2–2.5 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION 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.