Deyeuxia brachyathera (Stapf) Vickery. Contr. New South Wales Natl. Herb. 1:68 (1940).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Dichelachne brachyanthera Stapf, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1906: 203 (1906).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: Gregson s.n. (Gryson), (K).
Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (200), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (201).
Illustrations: [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (200), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (205, Fig.28).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect, 60–120 cm tall, 4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 3 mm long, membranous, abaxially scaberulous, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades linear, flat, 10–35 cm long, 3–7(–11) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or lanceolate or oblong or ovate, 8–28 cm long, 0.8–2 cm wide, evenly furnished or with spikelets clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension or with a barren rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 3.5–7 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, much thinner on margins, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 5.7 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous.
Florets. Fertile lemma 3.5–6 mm long, without keel, 5(–7) -nerved. Lemma apex entire or dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 4–5 mm long overall. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
New South Wales: Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Snowfields. Tasmania: Central Highlands, Ben Lomond.
Notes. Endemic. Central Highlands and Ben Lomond region, Tas., S from New England, A.C.T. and Vic. Usually in cool, damp forest and mountain gullies, in or near peaty bogs or swamps, also wet alpine grasslands and heathlands. In Tas. from 400–1435 m altitude. Flowers Nov.-Apr.
