Eustachys distichophylla* (Lag.) Nees. Agros. Bras. 418 (1829).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Chloris distichophylla Lag., Gen. et Sp. Nov. 4. (1816).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Argentina: Nee (MA holo, BA).
Recent synonyms: Chloris distichophylla.
Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (384), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (266).
Illustrations: [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 47), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (385, fig. 319), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (266).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present. Culms 25–130 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades linear, flat or conduplicate, 9–40 cm long, 4–20 mm wide.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile floret, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, obovate, laterally compressed, 2.5–3.3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic or oblong, 1.8–2.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume apex lobed, awned.
Florets. Fertile lemma 2.2–3.3 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea 2 -nerved. Grain 0.9–1.3 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia, North America, and South America.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia: Irwin, Drummond. South Australia: Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty. Queensland: Burnett, Darling Downs, Moreton, South Kennedy, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast.
Notes. Known from isolated occurrences in several states, probably always as a garden escape; tropics; native to S America.
