Axonopus pennellii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 75 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 5–25 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 10–25 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; hirsute. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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

Racemes 18; digitate; ascending; unilateral; 9–14 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3.5 cm long. Rhachis angular; 0.4–0.5 mm wide; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; 6.5 spikelets per cm. Raceme-bases brief; pubescent, or pilose.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 1.6–1.7 mm long; 0.5–0.6 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; 2 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins.

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; 2 -veined; without midvein; pubescent; hairy on veins. Fertile lemma 1.6–1.7 mm long; indurate; light brown; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; without ornament. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: northern South America and western South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Black 1994.

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