Derivation
Thyridolepis S.T.Blake, Contr. Queensland Herb. 13: 25 (1972); from the Greek thyridos (a window) and lepis (a scale), alluding to the peculiar lower glume.

xerophila- from the Greek xeros (dry) and phileo (love). Desert species.

Published in
Contr. Queensland Herb.13: 33 (1972).

Common synonyms
Neurachne xerophila Domin

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Basal leaf sheaths thickened and forming a bulb, woolly. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 15–70 cm tall, 5–9-noded. Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.3–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 1.5–9 cm long, 1–4 mm wide, rigid.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle spiciform, linear or oblong, continuous, 1.5–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis, with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis angular, pubescent.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels oblong, 0.3–0.8 mm long, pubescent. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile or male, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 3.9–5.3 mm long, falling entire. Spikelet callus pilose. Spikelet callus hairs 0.8 mm long, 15–20% of length of spikelet. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

Glumes
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong or ovate, 3.9–5.3 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, cartilaginous, 7–9-nerved. Lower glume surface with a longitudinal median groove. Lower glume surface fenestrate, glabrous, with a dorsal tuft of hair. Lower glume apex truncate or obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate, 3.4–4.9 mm long, 90% of length of spikelet, chartaceous or cartilaginous, 7–9-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or pubescent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex entire or dentate, 3-fid, truncate or obtuse.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate or elliptic, 2.7–3.5 mm long, 60–70% of length of spikelet, membranous or chartaceous, 5-nerved, pubescent, obtuse. Fertile lemma lanceolate or elliptic, 2.9–4 mm long, membranous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2-nerved. Anthers 3, 1.5–2.3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales.

Western Australia: Helms. Northern Territory: Central Australia South. South Australia: North-western. Queensland: South Kennedy, Leichhardt, Burnett, Darling Downs, Gregory South, Mitchell, Warrego, Maranoa. New South Wales: Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Neurachneae

Notes
Native. In dry sclerophyll forests, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, acacia shrublands, and arid hummock grasslands. Flowers sporadically throughout the year.