Derivation
Andropogon L., Sp. Pl. 1: 1045 (1753) & Gen. Pl. 5: 468 (1754); from the Greek aner (man) and pogon (beard), alluding to the awns or to the long hairs on the raceme internodes and pedicels.

distachyos- from the Greek dis (twice) and stachys (an ear of corn). Inflorescence two-branched.

Published in
Sp. Pl. 1046 (1753).

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Basal leaf sheaths pubescent. Culms 25–100 cm tall. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–20 cm long, 1–5 mm wide.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence with ramose branches, terminal. Rames paired, 4–14 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes, ciliate on margins. Rame internodes cuneate (slightly) or clavate or linear. Rame internode tip transverse, crateriform, with simple rim.

Spikelets
Spikelets appressed, in pairs, one sessile and fertile and the other (companion) spikelet pedicelled. Pedicels linear or clavate (slightly), ciliate. Companion spikelets developed, male, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 6–11 mm long, shorter than fertile, persistent. Companion spikelet glumes herbaceous, dentate, 2-fid, acuminate, one glume awned. Companion spikelet glumes with 3–9 mm long awn. Companion spikelet lemmas enclosed by glumes. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 8–16 mm long, falling entire, deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus oblong, 1–2 mm long, pilose, base obtuse, inserted.

Glumes
Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, asymmetrical, 100% of length of spikelet, herbaceous or coriaceous, much thinner above, 2-keeled, keeled laterally, broadly winged on keel, winged above (50–66% of length), 7–11-nerved. Lower glume intercarinal nerves distinct, 7–11 in number. Lower glume surface convex or flat or concave. Lower glume surface asperulous, glabrous or pubescent. Lower glume apex dentate, 2-fid, caudate. Upper glume lanceolate, hyaline or chartaceous, 1-keeled. Upper glume apex awned. Upper glume awn 4–10 mm long.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate or oblong, hyaline, 2-nerved, glabrous. Fertile lemma oblong, 5–6 mm long, hyaline. Lemma apex lobed, 2-fid, incised 50% of lemma length, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, geniculate, 15–30 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column glabrous. Palea hyaline, 0-nerved, without keels.

Continental Distribution:
Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia: Drummond.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Andropogoneae

Notes
Introduced, naturalised in one locality in south-western W.A. Flowers Oct.