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Problem with the function basename of make 3.62

I have the following problem: did I misunderstand the doc or is it a real bug?
Any suggestion appreciated.

Version number of make:
GNU Make version 3.62, by Richard Stallman and Roland McGrath.
Copyright (C) 1988-1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Makefile used (contains 1 line):
l.m : % : $(basename %).c

Result obtained in a directory containing only the Makefile file:
make: *** No way to make target `l.m.c'.  Stop.

Result expected:
make: *** No way to make target `l.c'.  Stop.

Comments:
why is the basename function not executed?
If the Makefile is: 
l.m : % : $(addsuffix i,%).c
the result is:
make: *** No way to make target `l.mi.c'.  Stop.
That shows that it is possible to use a function in a static pattern rule.
Why does not it work with basename?

Patrick GROS
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Patrick GROS, Irimag-Lifia, 46 Avenue Felix Viallet 38031 Grenoble FRANCE
Tel: (33) 76 57 46 63, Fax: (33) 76 57 46 02, e-mail : gros@lifia.imag.fr
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