Axonopus ramosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 15–80 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths 2–4 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; narrower than blade at the collar; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–5 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 20–40 cm long.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; spreading; unilateral; 3–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–1.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; glabrous on surface; smooth on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 7.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; glabrous.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 1.3–1.4 mm long; 0.5 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; dark brown; 2–4 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins.

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; dark brown; 2–4 -veined; without midvein; pubescent; hairy on veins. Fertile lemma 1.3–1.4 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; without ornament. 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.