Axonopus fissifolius (Raddi) Kuhlm.

Relat. Commiss. Linhas Telegr. Estratég. Matto Grosso Amazonas 5(11): 87 (1922).

Paspalum fissifolium Raddi, Agrostogr. Bras.: 26 (1823);

Axonopus affinis Chase, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 28: 180 (1938);

Axonopus compressus var. affinis (Chase) Hend., Malay Wild Fl.: 339 (1954).

Description:

* Mat forming perennial with short rhizomes and 10-60 cm high; basal innovations flabellate. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves flat or conduplicate, 4.5-22 cm long and 1.5-7 mm wide, obtuse or abruptly acute; ligule a ciliolate membrane; sheaths keeled.

* Inflorescence of 2-4 digitate unilateral racemes. Racemes 1.5-7 cm long; rhachis angular, glabrous or pubescent, glabrous on margins. Spikelet adaxial, regular, 2 -rowed. Spikelets sessile.

* Spikelets elliptic, obtuse or subacute, 1.6-2.1 mm long. Lower glume absent or obscure; upper glume elliptic, as long spikelet, membranous, 2-5-veined, puberulous, obtuse. Lower floret without significant palea; lemma similar to upper glume, elliptic, acute; upper lemma obovate, 1.5-2 mm long, indurate, pallid, margins involute, obtuse.

Distribution West Africa: Introduced in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana. 

Distribution world-wide: Americas; introduced in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

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