Axonopus sulcatus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 80–100 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths 8–12 cm long; narrower than blade at the collar; keeled. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blade base cuneate, or truncate. Leaf-blades 8–22 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Racemes 10; digitate; ascending; flexuous; unilateral; 8–15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–0.6 mm wide; glabrous on surface; smooth on margins, or scaberulous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pilose.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.3–0.4 mm long.

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 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 pubescent; hairy between veins. Upper glume hairs purple.

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; 5 -veined; ribbed; pubescent; hairy between veins; bearing purple hairs. Fertile lemma linear; 1.7–1.8 mm long; indurate; pallid, or yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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