Short-hair Plume Grass

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

Dichelachne micrantha

Sparse open tufted grass to 40 cm tall, with thin plume-like flowering stems to 1 m tall. Flat dark green leaves to 20 cm long. Seedheads distinctly fluffy.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Former Scientific Name
D. sciurea
Distinctive Features

The fine bristle or awn on the seed is short (<15 mm long).
Biology

Perennial. Common in dry woodland or wet sclerophyll forest. Not grazed. Also NZ.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Jul-Oct, (Oct- Feb in SA)
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Dichelachne
Species
micrantha

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
Native Status
Native