Axonopus zuloagae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations flabellate. Culms 9–32 cm long. Culm-internodes 2–5 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 1.5–7 cm long; striately veined; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.1–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 0.8–13 cm long; 1.5–2.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous; hairless throughout, or except near base. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; hooded.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–2 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 6–22.5 cm long; glabrous.

Racemes 2; paired; flexuous; unilateral; 1.8–4 cm long. Rhachis angular; scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; acute; 2.6–3.8 mm long; 0.9–1.1 mm wide; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume hairs 0.1–1 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1.1 length of fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; 5 -veined; glabrous, or pilose; bearing hairs 0.1–1 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–3 mm long; indurate; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex pubescent. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.3 mm long. Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gir.-Canas 2004.

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