Greek dichelos – cloven-footed, achne – chaff, referring to the two-lobed lemmas.
Tufted annuals or perennials with hollow internodes. Leaves narrow, rolled in bud. Ligules membranous and truncated. Inflorescence open, or more commonly spike-like panicle. Spikelets flattened laterally, disarticulating above the glumes. Glumes 2, very unequal or more or less equal, lower glume 1-nerved, upper glume 1(-3) nerved. Lemma firmer than glumes, 2 lobed, awned, hairless, faintly 5 nerved. Palea long, entire, awnless, 2-nerved, 2-keeled.
Grown as a native pasture species and for attractive ornamental flowering heads.
Seed
Stems of D. crinita have been used to make paper.
Distinctive white to straw coloured feathery inflorescence.
About 5 species from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific rim.
Veldkamp (1974).
Source: (2005). Poaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.