Axonopus steyermarkii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–60 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 6–10 cm long; wider than blade at the collar; keeled. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; soon splitting, or simple.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 2–3 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 20–30 cm long.

Racemes 3–4; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 6–9 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–4 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 3.5–4.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; 1 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.8–3 mm long; 0.7–0.8 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; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins; without hair tufts, or with an apical beard.

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; dark brown; 5 -veined; with unevenly spaced veins (near margin); glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins; without hair tufts, or with conspicuous apical hairs. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.5 mm long; indurate; light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; pubescent. 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.