Dichanthium tenue (R.Br.) A. Camus. Bull.
Mus. Hist. Nat. (Paris)
27: 549 (1921).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Andropogon
tenuis R. Br., Prodr. 201 (1810).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: (T.) Littora Novae Hollandiae intra tropicum.,.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (201 as Andropogon
tenuis), [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 (208).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (208).
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 subdigitate, 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, 4–6 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, 4–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, chartaceous or
indurate, of similar consistency above, without keels, 8–9 -nerved. Upper glume
lanceolate, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. 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, 22–28 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Palea absent. Anthers 3.
Grain 2.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland:
Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy,
Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide
Bay. New
South Wales: North Coast, Central
Coast, Northern
Tablelands.
Notes.
From coastal subtropical N.S.W. to tropical Qld on both sandy and clay soils.
Extends to New Guinea.
Flowers whole year.
