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20 FIELDIANA: BOTANY, VOLUME 28
glabrous, the margins very scabrous, the tip obtuse, 23-33 cm.
long, 12 mm. wide, the uppermost greatly reduced; panicles
terminal and axillary, long-exserted, 12-27 cm. long, erect,
dense, the compound branches narrowly ascending, as much as
13 cm. long, densely pubescent or pilose in the axils, the
rachis very scabrous; spikelets 2.4-2.6 mm. long, the second
glume and sterile lemma equal, covering the fruit, 5-nerved,
obtuse, rather densely pubescent between the nerves; fruit 2.3
mm. long, oblong, acutish, minutely papillose-roughened, somewhat
pubescent at the tip.
Type in U.S. Nat. Herb., no. 1,911,664, collected on Gran
Sabana, between Mission of Santa Teresita de Kavanayen northwest
of Rio Karuai, on large mesa, state of Bolivar, alt.
1220 m., October 26, 1944, Julian A. Steyermark 59400. Also
collected between Kun and Uaduara-paru, in valley of Rio
Kukenan, south of Mount Roraima, 59050.
This species is probably most closely related to Axonopus
scoparius Flugge, but easily distinguished by the prominent
conduplicate sheaths pubescent on the collar, the firmer and
narrower obtuse blades, and the narrow, dense inflorescences.
Axonopus Steyermarkii Swallen, sp. nov.
Perennis; culmi ca. 45 cm. aki glabri uninodi; vaginae
equitantes 10 cm. longae, compressae, glabrae, suprema elongata
lamina reducta; ligula ciliata 0.5 mm. longa; laminae
planae, 10-24 cm. longae, 2.5-6 mm. latae, glabrae, marginibus
scabris; inflorescentiae terminales et axillares, racemis 3-4,
adscendentibus approximates infirao remote; rachis 0.4 mm.
lata; spiculae 2.8-3 mm. longae, pedicellis 1 mm. longis pilosis;
gluma secunda et lemma sterile aequalia, angusta, obtusa,
5-nervia, nervis lateralibus approximates, inter nervos
sparse pilosa; fructus 2.5 longus, elliptic us, lemmate summo
villoso.
Perennial; culms about 45 cm. high, glabrous, with a single
culm node; sheaths equitant, about 10 cm. long, compressed,
gradually narrowed from the base to the summit, glabrous, the
culm sheath elongate with a reduced blade; ligule ciliate, 0.5
mm. long; blades flat, 10-24 cm. long, narrower at the base
than the mouth of the sheath, glabrous, the margins scabrous
at the tip; inflorescences terminal and axillary with 3-4 ascending
racemes, the upper ones approximate, the lowest somewhat
remote, pubescent or pilose at the base, the rachis
triangular, about 0.4 mm. wide; spikelets 2.8-3 mm. long,
blunt, rather distant, not reaching the one above on the same
side, pedicellate, the pedicel round, about 1 mm. long, more
or less pilose; second glume and sterile lemma equal, exceeding
the fruit, thin, narrow, exposing the fruit on the sides,