Dimeria acinaciformis R. Br. Prodr. 204 (1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Littora Novae Hollandiae intra tropicum,.
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (204), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (523), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Annual. Culms 10–40 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or pubescent. Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.5–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, 1–4 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Companion spikelets absent. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear or lanceolate or elliptic, laterally compressed, 4.5–5.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear or lanceolate or elliptic, coriaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or indumented. Upper glume lanceolate, membranous or coriaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, winged on keel, 1–3 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline or membranous, 0 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 3–3.5 mm long, without keel, 1 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 10–12 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Palea absent. Anthers 2.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy.
Notes. Found on creek bands in open forest country from northern N.T. and Qld. Extends to New Guinea. Flowers May--Aug.
