Axonopus chrysostachyus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–85 cm long. Leaves mostly basal; without demarcation between sheath and blade. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–17 cm long; 5–7 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; with 1–4 peduncles per sheath. Peduncle 10–35 cm long.

Racemes 3–14; digitate; unilateral; 5–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 0.5–2.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.5–0.9 mm wide; setose on margins. Rhachis hairs yellow; 2–3.5 mm long. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels reduced to a stump; setose.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or obovate; dorsally compressed; 1.1–1.5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 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; yellow, or light brown; without keels; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; yellow, or light brown; 2 -veined; without midvein; glabrous, or puberulous; hairy on veins; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.1–1.5 mm long; indurate; dark brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and Brazil.

NOTES Paniceae. Fl Guian 1997.

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