MANUAL OF THE GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



595 



Figure 856. — Brachiaria plantaginea. Panicle, X 1; 

 two views of spikelet, and floret, X 10. (Pringle 

 3904, Mex.) 



Figure 857. — Brachiaria erucaeformis. Panicle, X 1; 

 two views of spikelet, and floret, X 10. (Cult.) 



kl lilil 



•i Vl lit 



134. AX0NOPUS Beauv. 



Spikelets depressed-biconvex, not turgid, oblong, usually obtuse, solitary, 

 subsessile, and alternate, in 2 rows on one side of a 3-angled raehis, the back 

 of the fertile lemma turned from the raehis; first glume wanting; second glume 

 and sterile lemma equal, the lemma without a palea; fertile lemma and palea 

 indurate, the lemma oblong-elliptic, usually obtuse, the margins slightly 

 inrolled. Stoloniferous or tufted perennials, rarely annuals, with usually flat 

 or folded, abruptly rounded or somewhat pointed blades, and few or numerous, 

 slender spikelike racemes, digitate or racemose along the main axis. Type 

 species, Axonopus compressus. Name from Greek axon, axis, and pous, foot. 



One of the species, A . affinis, is a predominant pasture grass in the alluvial 

 or mucky soil of the southern Coastal Plain. It is of little importance on sandy 

 soil and does not thrive on the uplands. Axonopus compressus is used as a lawn 

 grass, for which purpose it is propagated by setting out j oints of the stolons. 



Spikelets 4 to 5 mm. long, glabrous; midnerve of glume and sterile lemma evident. 



1. A. FURCATUS. 



Spikelets 2 to 3 mm. long, sparsely appressed-silky ; midnerve of glume and sterile lemma 

 suppressed. 

 Second glume and sterile lemma scarcely, if at all, pointed beyond the fruit; blades 2 to 



4 mm., rarely to 6 mm., wide; nodes glabrous 3. A. affinis. 



Second glume and sterile lemma distinctly pointed beyond the fruit; blades mostly 8 to 

 10 mm. wide; nodes often bearded. „-,„-«-„ 2. A. compressus. 



