Axonopus rosei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 60–70 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 3–15 cm long; as wide as blade at the collar. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–20 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 30–50 cm long.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; spreading; flexuous; unilateral; 5–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0–1 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; dark-coloured (purple); glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 3.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4 mm long; 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 glabrous, or pubescent.

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; 5–7 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous. Fertile lemma 3.4 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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