Axonopus suffultus

HABIT Perennial. Culms 40–120 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–60 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex abruptly acute.

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

Racemes 10–25; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 3–10 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.6 mm wide; drab; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5.5 spikelets per cm.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; 0.2–0.3 mm long; ciliate; hairy at base; with 1–1.5 mm long hairs.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.3 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; hyaline; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent.

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; hyaline; 2 -veined; without midvein. Fertile lemma 2.3 mm long; indurate; dark brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; without ornament. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION 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.