Axonopus rupestris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms geniculately ascending; 10–35 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 1–2 -noded. Culm-internodes hollow; distally glabrous. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths 7.5 cm long; with winged keel; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.5–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; conduplicate; 5–10 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy abaxially; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath.

Racemes 2(–3); paired; spreading; unilateral; 4.5–6.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0(–1) cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.6 mm wide; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 6 spikelets per cm; regular; 2 -rowed. Raceme-bases pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.9–3.5 mm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy between veins. Upper glume hairs 0.5–1 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 2.7–3.2 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; 4 -veined; without midvein; pilose; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.4–3.5 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Davidse 1996.

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