Axonopus siccus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 50–90 cm long; 1–4 -noded. Culm-internodes terete. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; curved; conduplicate, or involute; 5–40 cm long; 2–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 25–50 cm long.

Racemes 4–30; borne along a central axis; ascending, or spreading; unilateral; 5–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–15 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3–0.4 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 6–10 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; glabrous, or pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.2–0.4 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse, or subacute; 1.6–2.1 mm long; 0.6–0.7 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 lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between 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; 5 -veined; ribbed; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma 1.6–2.1 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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