Axonopus suffultiformis

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms erect; 100 cm long; 1–2 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 8–9 cm long; keeled. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent, or deciduous at the ligule; conduplicate; 20–40 cm long; 10–12 mm wide; stiff; light green. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; soon splitting, or simple.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 25–30 cm long.

Racemes 9; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 5–12 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 1–3.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.3 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 10 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent and pilose.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; 0–0.4 mm long; ciliate; hairy at base; with 0.5–0.8 mm long hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2 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; light green; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy at base.

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; light green; 5 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy at base. Fertile lemma 2 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament, or 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.