Axonopus fissifolius

Population Trend:

Growing

Taxonomy

Unambiguous Synonyms:

1. A. compressus var. affinis (Chase) M. R. Henderson
2. Axonopus affinis Chase
3. Paspalum fissifolium Raddi, Agrostogr. Bras. 26. 1823
4. Paspalum xizangense B. S. Sun & H. Sun.

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Place of publication: Relat. Commiss. Linhas Telegr. Estratég. Matto Grosso Amazonas 11:87. 1922

Name verified on 06-May-1992 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 28-May-2003

Physical Description

Family Poaceae:

Annual or perennial herbs, or tall woody bamboos. Flowering stems (culms) jointed, internodes hollow or solid; branches arising singly from nodes and subtended by a leaf sheath and 2-keeled prophyll, often fascicled in bamboos. Leaves arranged alternately in 2 ranks, differentiated into sheath, blade, and an adaxial erect appendage at sheath/blade junction (ligule) ; leaf sheath surrounding and supporting culm-internode, split to base or infrequently tubular with partially or completely fused margins, modified with reduced blade in bamboos (culm sheaths) ; leaf blades divergent, usually long, narrow and flat, but varying from inrolled and filiform to ovate, veins parallel, sometimes with cross-connecting veinlets (especially in bamboos) ; ligule membranous or a line of hairs. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, an open, contracted, or spikelike panicle, or composed of lax to spikelike racemes arranged along an elongate central axis, or digitate, paired, or occasionally solitary; axillary inflorescences often many, subtended by spatheoles (specialized bladeless leaf sheaths) and gathered into a leafy compound panicle; spikelets often aggregated into complex clusters in bamboos. Spikelets composed of distichous bracts arranged along a slender axis (rachilla) ; typically 2 lowest bracts (glumes) empty, subtending 1 to many florets; glumes often poorly differentiated from accompanying bracts in bamboos. Florets composed of 2 opposing bracts enclosing a single small flower, outer bract (lemma) clasping the more delicate, usually 2-keeled inner bract (palea) ; base of floret often with thickened prolongation articulated with rachilla (callus) ; lemma often with apical or dorsal bristle (awn), glumes also sometimes awned. Flowers bisexual or unisexual; lodicules (small scales representing perianth) 2, rarely 3 or absent, 3 to many in bamboos, hyaline or fleshy; stamens 3 rarely 1, 2, 6, or more in some bamboos, hypogynous, filaments capillary, anthers versatile; ovary 1-celled, styles (1 or) 2(rarely 3), free or united at base, topped by feathery stigmas, exserted from sides or apex of floret. Fruit normally a dry indehiscent caryopsis with thin pericarp firmly adherent to seed, pericarp rarely free, fleshy in some bamboos; embryo small or large; hilum punctate to linear.

About 700 genera and 11,000 species: widely distributed in all regions of the world.^[1]

Genus Axonopus:

Perennials, rarely annuals. Culms tufted or stoloniferous. Leaf blades flat or involute, often obtuse; ligule short, membranous-ciliolate. Inflorescence composed of 2 to many slender racemes, mostly subdigitate but sometimes along a short central axis; spikelets borne singly, subsessile, alternating in 2 rows along the narrow triquetrous rachis, lower lemma adaxial. Spikelets lanceolate to oblong, flatly biconvex, florets 2 (but apparently 1) ; lower glume absent; upper glume membranous, as long as spikelet, obscurely 4- or 5-veined; lower floret neuter, reduced to an empty lemma similar to upper glume, its palea absent; upper floret crustaceous, lemma margins inrolled, apex obtuse. x = 9, 10.

About 110 species: tropical and subtropical America, one species in Africa; two species (both introduced) in China.

Many species of Axonopus are good forage or lawn grasses. The two species found in China have been widely introduced in the humid tropics of the world.^[2]

Species Axonopus fissifolius:

Perennial with creeping stolons. Culms compressed, 15-50 cm tall, nodes glabrous. Leaf sheaths compressed, strongly keeled; leaf blades broadly linear, folded, 5-20 × 0.3-0.6 cm, apex obtuse; ligule ca. 0.2 mm. Racemes 2-4, 2-paired, any others spaced slightly below, 3-8 cm, only slightly diverging; rachis glabrous. Spikelets oblong-elliptic, 1.5-2 mm, pilose near margins and apex or subglabrous, apex subacute; upper glume and lower lemma 2-4-veined, midvein absent; upper lemma pale, ovate, as long as spikelet, obtuse with a short apical tuft of hairs; stigmas purple. Fl. and fr. summer-autumn. 2n = 54, 80. [source]

This species is similar to Axonopus compressus, but tends to favor rather cooler and more waterlogged situations. It is naturalized in Taiwan and has also been found in Xizang. [source]

Habit: Graminoid

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

North America

Native: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina.

Habitat

Moist muddy or sandy meadows, naturalized.^[3].

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Similar Species

Members of the genus Axonopus:

There are approximately 220 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: A. argentinus glabripes · A. argentinus pubiflorus · A. compressus brevipedunculatus · A. amapaensis · A. amplifolius · A. anceps · A. andinus · A. anomalus · A. appendiculatus · A. apricus · A. arcuatus · A. arenosus · A. argentinus · A. argentinus subsp. glabripes · A. argentinus subsp. pubiflorus · A. argentinus var. genuinus · A. argentinus var. glabriflorus · A. argentinus var. glabripes · A. arsenei · A. arundinaceus · A. ater · A. attenuatus · A. aturensis · A. aureus (Golden Carpetgrass) · A. aureus var. pilosus · A. barbatus · A. barbiger (Flounders) · A. barbigerus · A. barbigerus var. venturii · A. bijugus · A. blakei · A. boliviensis · A. brasiliensis · A. brevipedunculatus · A. burchellii · A. caespitosus · A. camargoanus · A. canaliculatus · A. canescens · A. canescens var. psilachne · A. capillaris · A. caracarahyensis · A. carajasensis · A. carinato-vaginatum · A. carinato-vaginatus · A. carinato-vaginatus var. sprucei · A. casiquiarensis · A. caulescens · A. centralis · A. chaseae · A. chaseanus · A. chimantensis · A. chloridiformis · A. chrysites · A. chrysoblepharis · A. chrysodactylon · A. chrysostachyus · A. ciliatifolius · A. cimicinus · A. columbiensis · A. comans · A. comatus · A. complanatus · A. compressus (Broadleaf Carpetgrass) · A. compressus subsp. brevipedunculatus · A. compressus var. affinis · A. compressus var. australis · A. compressus var. itirapinensis · A. compressus var. jesuiticus · A. compressus var. macropodius · A. conduplicatus · A. corymbosus · A. cuatrecasasii · A. cuatrecassasii · A. debilis · A. deludens · A. derbyanus · A. derbyanus var. parvispicula · A. digitatus · A. dissitiflorus · A. ecklonianus · A. elegantulus · A. elongatus · A. eminens · A. eminens var. bolivianus · A. equitans · A. erectus · A. exasperatus · A. excavatus · A. extenuatus · A. fastigiatus · A. fissifolius (Carpetgrass) · A. fissifolius var. coronatus · A. fissifolius var. polystachyus · A. flabelliformis · A. flabelliformis var. camporum · A. flabelliformis var. decipiens · A. flexilis · A. flexousus · A. flexuosus

Bibliography

• CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) (Weed CIBA)
• Catasús Guerra, L. J. Cavanillesia Altera
• Chen Shouliang, Jin Yuexing, Zhuang Tide, Fang Wenzhe, Sheng Guoying, Liu Liang, Wu Zhenlan, Lu Shenglian, Sun Bisin, Hu Zhihao, Wang Song, Sun Xiangzhong, Wang Huiqin, Yang Xilin, Wang Chaopin, Li Binggui & Wen Shaobin. 1990. Gramineae (Poaceae) (4). In: Chen Shouliang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 10(1):1401
• Chen Shouliang, Zhuang Tide, Fang Wenzhe, Sheng Guoying, Jin Yuexing, Liu Liang, Sun Bisin, Hu Zhihao & Wang Song. 1997. Gramineae (Poaceae) (5). In: Chen Shouliang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 10(2): 1301
• Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. (F Mesoamer)
• FNA Editorial Committee. 1993–. Flora of North America. (F NAmer)
• Görts-van Rijn, A. R. A., ed. 1986–. Flora of the Guianas. (F Guianas)
• Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. (L US Can ed2)
• Liu Liang, Zhu Taiping, Chen Wenli, Wu Zhenlan & Lu Shenglian. Gramineae (Poaceae) (2). In: Liu Liang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 9(2): 1405
• Lu Sheng-lian, Sun Yong-hua, Liu Shang-wu, Yang Yong-chang, Wu Zhen-lan, Kuo Pen-chao, Yang Hsi-ling, Wang Chao-pin & Tsui Nai-ran. 1987. Gramineae (3). In: Kuo Pen-chao, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 9(3): 1329
• Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants. (Dict Rehm)
• Reitz, R., ed. 1965–. Flora ilustrada catarinense. (F SCatarin)
• Renvoize, S. A. 1984. The grasses of Bahia. (Grass Bahia)
• Renvoize, S. A. 1988. Hatschbach's Parana grasses. (Grass Parana)
• Renvoize, S. A. 1998. Gramineas de Bolivia. (Grass Bolivia)
• Wang Zhengping, Ye Guanghan, Yang Yaling, Yu Zehua, Hu Chenhua, Geng Bojie, Feng Xuelin, Jia Liangzhi, Xia Nianhe, Li Dezhu, Zhang Weiping, Xue Jiru, Zhu Zhengde, Zhao Qiseng, Chen Shouliang, Sheng Guoying, Chen Shaoyun, Yao Changyu, Lu Jionglin, Sun Jiliang, Lin Wantao, Yi Tongpei, Zhao Huiru, Wen Taihui & Dai Qihui. 1996. Gramineae (Poaceae) (1).
• Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catalogo de la familia Poaceae en la Republica Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47. (L Grass Argent)

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Notes

Contributors:

• "Axonopus fissifolius". in Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 530, 531. Published by Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 17, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 14 providers.
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 26, 2008)

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 17, 2007:

• Australian National Herbarium
• , Australian National Herbarium
• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Bishop Museum Natural History Specimen Data
• Herbarium of the University of Aarhus, The AAU Herbarium Database
• Herbier de la Guyane, Herbier de la Guyane
• Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad
• , Biodiversidad de Costa Rica
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• National Herbarium of New South Wales, NSW herbarium collection
• National Herbarium of New South Wales, Plants of Papua New Guinea
• UNIBIO, IBUNAM, MEXU/Plantas Vasculares
• USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database
• University of Alabama Biodiversity and Systematics, Herbarium

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 193433
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13732332
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:392108-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PMPOA0U0H0
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: AXFI
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 22175

Footnotes:

1. Shou-liang Chen, De-Zhu Li, Guanghua Zhu, Zhenlan Wu, Sheng-lian Lu, Liang Liu, Zheng-ping Wang, Bi-xing Sun, Zheng-de Zhu, Nianhe Xia, Liang-zhi Jia, Zhenhua Guo, Wenli Chen, Xiang Chen, Yang Guangyao, Sylvia M. Phillips, Chris Stapleton, Robert J. Soreng, Susan G. Aiken, Nikolai N. Tzvelev, Paul M. Peterson, Stephen A. Renvoize, Marina V. Olonova & Klaus Ammann "Poaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 22. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
2. Shou-liang Chen & Sylvia M. Phillips "Axonopus". in Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 500, 530. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
3. "Axonopus fissifolius". in Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 530, 531. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.