Axonopus villosus

HABIT Perennial. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms robust; 70–200 cm long. Culm-nodes bearded. Leaves without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 10–17 cm long; 6–10 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

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

Racemes 4–6; digitate; ascending, or spreading; unilateral; 7–16 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2–5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; ciliate on margins. Rhachis hairs 1–2 mm long. Spikelet packing adaxial; 4.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; subacute; 3.5–4 mm long; 1–1.2 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; 5–7 -veined. 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; 1.2 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5–7 -veined; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy between veins. Fertile lemma 3 mm long; indurate; yellow; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse; 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.