Dichelachne crinita (L.f.) Hook. f. Fl.
Nov. Zeland 1: 293 (1853).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Anthoxanthum
crinitum L. f., Suppl. Pl. 90 (1781 [1782]).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Forster s.n., New Zealand (S-herb. Bäck).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (170 as Agrostis
crinita), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (574), [1952]
C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (151), [2002]
D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2002]
J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (411), [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (215),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (209), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(215).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (153,
Pl. 46), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (216, fig. 161), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (209), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(213, Fig. 29; 219, Fig.30).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 50–125 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1 mm long,
entire. Leaf-blades 5.5–20 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, 8–20 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension or with a barren rachilla extension,
linear, laterally compressed, 5–9.8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper
glume lanceolate, 5.5–9.4 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–7.2 mm long, keeled, 1 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate, awned, 1
-awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 23–33(–40) mm long overall, with a
straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers 1–3. Grain
2.8–3.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Tropical Asia, Australasia,
and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Norfolk I, Lord Howe.
Western
Australia: Drummond, Dale, Warren, Eyre. South
Australia: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island,
South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett,
Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Moreton, Port
Curtis. New South Wales: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central
Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes,
South-Western Slopes. Victoria: Gippsland Highlands, Snowfields. Tasmania:
King Island, Furneaux Group, North West, North East, West Coast, Midlands, East Coast, South West.
Notes. Endemic. Also New Zealand.
Usually in well watered sites; often in eucalypt woodland. Flowers Nov.-Feb.
