Neurachne tenuifolia S. T. Blake. Contr. Queensland Herb. 13: 18 (1972).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Neurachneae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia centrali, Standley Chasm, Perry 5387 (HT: BRI-019001; IT: CANB, NSW, PERTH).
Key references (books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (485), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect or decumbent, 30–50 cm tall, 5–8 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.6–0.9 mm long. Leaf-blades curled, filiform, convolute, 8–25 cm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface papillose, indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Panicle linear or oblong, 4–6 cm long.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. 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, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 6.5–12 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, cartilaginous, much thinner on margins, without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or indumented. Lower glume apex muticous or awned. Upper glume lanceolate, 6.5–12 mm long, cartilaginous, 7 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex awned. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 50–75 % of length of spikelet, chartaceous, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 4.8–6.5 mm long, without keel. Palea without keels. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory: Central Australia South.
Notes. In acacia shrublands and arid hummock grasslands. Flowers sporadically throughout the year but mostly Sept.-May.
