Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Dichelachne Endl., Prodr. Fl. Norfolk. 20 (1833)
Vernacular Name(s):
Plume grass
 Description

Slender, erect perennials, tufted at base, with wiry ± nodding culms. Leaf-sheath densely, minutely puberulous to glabrous. Ligule short, membranous, truncate. Leaf-blade rather stiff, flat; margins often inrolled, gradually tapered to acute tip. Culm much overtopping leaves at maturity, few-noded. Panicle contracted, densely branched, to open, with few lax branches. Spikelets 1-(rarely 3)-flowered; disarticulation above glumes. Glumes 1–(3)-nerved, unequal to subequal, <  or ≥ lemma, hyaline except for scaberulous midnerve, acute to acuminate to shortly aristate. Lemma 5-nerved, fusiform; awn long, flexuous, inserted below entire or minutely bifid tip, ± geniculate, column scarcely, or much twisted. Palea < lemma, hyaline, narrow, with 2 close-set scabrid keels. Callus very short, ringed by short hairs. Rachilla prolongation minute. Lodicules 2, oblong, nerveless, ± bidentate, glabrous or sparsely ciliate. Stamens 1, 3, or variably 1–3, very small in cleistogamous flowers; anthers sometimes penicillate. Ovary glabrous; styles apical, free to base; stigmas plumose. Caryopsis cylindric, beaked, adaxially longitudinally grooved; embryo minute; hilum subbasal, punctiform; endosperm liquid. Chasmogamous or cleistogamous.

[From:  Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species in New Zealand within Dichelachne Endl.
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)1
Indigenous (Non-endemic)3
Exotic: Fully Naturalised2
Total6
 Bibliography
Edgar, E.; Connor, H. E. 1982: Dichelachne (Gramineae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 20: 303–309.
Endlicher, S.F.L. 1833: Prodromus Florae Norfolkicae. Beck, Wien.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Peterson, P.M.; Soreng, R.J.; Romaschenko, K.; Barberá, P.; Quintanar, A.; Aedo, C.; Saarela, J.M. 2022: Phylogeny and biogeography of Calamagrostis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae: Agrostidinae), description of a new genus, Condilorachia (Calothecinae), and expansion of Greeneochloa and Pentapogon (Echinopogoninae). Journal of Systematics and Evolution 00(00): 1–21 (online). (Published online: 2022)