Dichanthium setosum S. T. Blake. Univ.
Queensland
Dept. Biol. Pap 2(3): 50 (1944).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: New South
Wales: ... Moray ... 16 miles E. of Guyra, Mckie
310 (T: BRI,NSW).
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 (207).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (207).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 30–70 cm tall, 2–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes bearded.
Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.5–0.75 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm
long, 2–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous or scabrous, glabrous or
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid or digitate, a rame, with ramose branches. Rhachis fragile
at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Basal sterile spikelets well-developed, 2–4 in number. Companion
spikelets developed, male, 5–5.5 mm long. 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,
oblong, dorsally compressed, 5–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, chartaceous, much
thinner above, without keels, 8–9 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented.
Upper glume lanceolate, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface
scabrous. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant
palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline.
Fertile lemma without
keel, 1 -nerved. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn apical,
25 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Palea absent. Anthers 3. Grain 3 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania.
Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, Leichhardt, Moreton. New
South Wales: Northern Tablelands, North-Western
Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains. Tasmania: East Coast.
Notes. From the
tablelands of northern N.S.W. extending to two isolated records from southern
Qld (Mount Mistake and Gt Dividing Range near
Rolleston). Also Tasmania.
Flowers Nov.-Jun.
