Common name
Shorthair Plumegrass

Derivation
Dichelachne Endl., Prodr. Fl. Norfolk. 20 (1833); from the Greek dichelos (cloven-footed) and achne (chaff, scale), referring to bilobed lemmas.

micrantha- from the Greek mikros (small) and anthos (flower). Spikelets small.

Published in
Biblioth. Bot. 85: 353 (1915).

Common synonyms
Dichelachne sciurea (R.Br.) Hook.f.

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Culms erect, 30–95(–120) cm tall, wiry. Mid-culm internodes smooth or scaberulous, glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.3–1(–1.5) mm long, entire. Leaf-blades 7–23 cm long, 2–5 mm wide.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Peduncle 20–45 cm long. Panicle contracted, linear, continuous or interrupted, 3–19 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rhachilla extension or with a barren rhachilla extension, linear, laterally compressed, 3–5.5 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident, 0.2–0.5 mm long, pubescent, hairs 0.35–0.75 mm long.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma, gaping. Lower glume lanceolate, 3–5 mm long, equalling upper glume, membranous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acuminate or attenuate, muticous or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, 3–6 mm long, equalling adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Upper glume lateral nerves absent. Upper glume apex acuminate or attenuate.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate, (2.5–)3.4–4.7 mm long, cartilaginous, lightly keeled, keeled above, 5-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves obscure. Lemma surface asperulous or scaberulous or papillose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex dentate, 2-fid, obtuse (easily splitting) or acute, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, arising 75% way up back of lemma (0.5–1 mm below apex), curved or flexuous, 10–22 mm long overall, 350–500% of length of lemma, with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 0.25–3 mm long, 75% of length of lemma, 2-nerved. Palea keels approximate. Lodicules 2, 0.2–0.6 mm long, smooth or ciliate. Anthers 1 or 3, 1–1.75 mm long, pallid or yellow or purple. Grain with adherent pericarp, grooved, 2–4.45 mm long, apex rostrate. Hilum punctiform or linear. Endosperm liquid.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia, Pacific.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

Western Australia: Warren. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Cook, Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Burnett, Wide Bay, Darling Downs, Moreton, Maranoa. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains. Victoria: Riverina, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Highlands, East Gippsland. Tasmania: North West, North East, West Coast, Central Highlands, Ben Lomond, East Coast.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Aveneae

Notes
Native. All States and Territories except N.T., also on Lord Howe Is., New Guinea, New Zealand and the Pacific. Common in dry or wet sclerophyll forest. Flowers Oct.–Dec. Fruits ?–Jan.

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