Distichlis distichophylla (Labill.)Fassett. Rhodora 27: 71 (1925).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Uniola distichophylla Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. 1: 21, t. 24 (1804).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Habitat in capite Van-Diemen,.
Recent synonyms: D. spicata auct.
Key references (books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (637as Distichlis maritima), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (431), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (353), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (224).
Illustrations: [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (117), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.76D-E), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (354, fig. 285), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (224).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms decumbent, 7–60 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.1–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute or convolute, 1–8(–20) cm long, 1–4 mm wide.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 2–10, 0.5–4 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 2.5–8 cm long.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets (5–15), comprising 5–15 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate or ovate, laterally compressed, 6–18(–28) mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, scarious, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–9 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 4–5 mm long, scarious, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–9 -nerved. Florets. Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma 3–6.4 mm long, keeled, 5–11 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia, Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia: Eyre. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Victoria: East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: Midlands.
Notes. Useful as a sand-binder in coastal areas, but of little pasture value.
Collections rarely if ever have both male and female plants.
Most of Vic., except the NE, islands of Bass Strait, coastal and near coastal Tas., and southern S.A., with isolated far inland records from the northern Flinders Ra., and L. Cargellico in N.S.W. Also sw W.A. Flowers summer.
