Derivation
Ischaemum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 1049 (1753); Gen. Pl. 5th edn, 469 (1754); from the Greek ischo (to restrain) and haima (blood), as woolly seeds of the type species were reported as being used to stop bleeding.

polystachyum- from the Greek polys (many) and stachys (ear of corn). Plants with many branched culms or inflorescences.

Published in
Reliq. Haenk. 1: 328 (1830).

Habit
Perennial. Culms clambering, 120 cm tall. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 14 cm long, 14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hairy.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence with ramose branches. Rames digitate, 7 cm long.

Spikelets
Pedicels 5 mm long. Companion spikelets developed, bisexual or male, 5.5 mm long. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, lower floret male, upper fertile, elliptic, 5.5 mm long.

Glumes
Lower glume oblong, winged on keel, winged near apex, 12-nerved. Upper glume oblong, 5-nerved. Upper glume apex acuminate, awned. Upper glume awn 2 mm long.

Florets
Basal sterile florets 1. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong, acute. Lemma apex awned. Median (principal) awn 5 mm long overall. Palea linear. Anthers 1–1.5 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Tropical Asia, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland: Cook.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Andropogoneae

Notes
Native. The only Australian record of this common New Guinea species is from Duan Is. in the Torres Strait. Flowers Feb.