Dichelachne Endl.

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: Spencer, R.; Aldous, D.; Stajsic, V.; McGeary, D (2005). Poaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Poales
family       Poaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Dichelachne crinita (L.f.) Hook.f.