106 SOUTH INDIAN GRASSES 



7. Axonopus, Beauv. 



These are annual or perennial grasses. Inflorescence is a 

 panicle consisting of digitate or whorled, slender or stout spike- 

 like racemes. Spikelets are solitary, binate or fasciculate, 2-flower- 

 ed jointed on the pedicel and awned. There are four glumes. The 

 first glume is the shortest, ovate, acuminate, aristate or cuspidate, 

 hyaline, glabrous and 3-nerved. The second glume is ovate or 

 ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or awned, 5-nerved, lateral nerves 

 being marginal and hairy. The third glume is oblong or oblong 

 ovate, acute, 5-nerved, paleate, male ; palea is very short and small, 

 bipartite. The fourth glume is as long as the third and the 

 second, oblong or ovate, coriaceous, narrowed into a straight 

 terminal awn, paleate and bisexual ; palea is oblong, coriaceous and 

 2-nerved. Lodicules are cuneate. Stamens are three with linear 

 anthers. Stigmas are linear, laterally exserted. Grain is oblong- 

 free within the hardened glume and its palea. 



