Plume Grass

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©Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Michael Bedingfield

Dichelachne rara

Extremely variable tufted perennial to 90 cm tall. Leaf blades variable but up to 16 cm long, rough to the touch. Seedheads moderately dense to 15 cm long.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Distinctive Features

The grass flower is enclosed by two bracts (lemma) and in this species they are hairless. Hairless bristles on seeds (awns) to 25 mm that is attached near the top of the lemma.
Biology

Perennial. Dry situations in heath, dry forest and grasslands to subalpine zones. One of the commonest Dichelachne species. Introduced in NZ.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Feb
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Dichelachne
Species
rara

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

From the Greek dichelos = spilt, achne = chaff, referring to the characteristic split in the bract enclosing the flower (lemma).

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Similar to D. sieberiana from which it was separated.
Native Status
Native