Derivation
Dinebra Jacq., Fragm. Bot. 77, fig. 1 (1809); a corruption of Arabic danaiba (a little tail), alluding to the acuminate glumes.

retroflexa- from the Latin retro (backwards) and flexus (bend). Inflorescence branches reflexed.

Published in
Denkschr. Konigl. Akad. Wiss. München 1813: 270 (1814).

Habit
Annual, loosely tufted. Basal leaf sheaths glabrous. Culms erect or prostrate, 15–112 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glandular. Ligule an eciliate or a fringed membrane, 1–1.6 mm long, lacerate. Leaf-blades flat, 4.5–28 cm long, 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of spikes. Spikes numerous, deflexed or spreading, linear or oblong or cuneate, unilateral, 0.6–6 cm long, bearing few fertile spikelets or many spikelets, bearing 2–20 fertile spikelets on each, simple. Central inflorescence axis 8–34 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis, narrowly winged, flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets
Spikelets appressed, solitary. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 1–3 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 5–9 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, firmer than fertile lemma, recurved at apex. Lower glume elliptic, 5–8.2 mm long, 90–100% of length of upper glume, coriaceous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scabrous. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex caudate. Upper glume elliptic, 5–8.2 mm long, 300% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, coriaceous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scabrous. Upper glume lateral nerves absent. Upper glume apex caudate.

Florets
Fertile lemma ovate, ovate in profile, 2–2.9 mm long, membranous, lightly keeled, 3-nerved. Lemma midnerve pubescent, hairy below. Lemma lateral nerves close to margins. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins pubescent, hairy below. Lemma apex emarginate or acute, muticous or mucronate. Palea ovate, 80–90% of length of lemma, 2-nerved. Palea keels pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Grain with adherent pericarp, ellipsoid, terete, trigonous, 1 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland: Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Darling Downs, Moreton, Warrego.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae

Notes
Introduced. A weed of cultivation and disturbed areas. Mostly on heavy clay soils, but also collected from black loamy soils and sandy soils.

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