Derivation
Austrochloris Lazarides, Austral. J. Bot., Suppl. Ser. 5: 33–34 (1972); from Latin australis (south), and Chloris (the grass genus in which it was formerly included).

dichanthioides- from the Greek -oides (resembling). Similar to Dichanthium.

Published in
Austral. J. Bot., Supp. Ser. 5: 35 (1972).

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Culms erect, 40–100 cm tall, 4–7-noded. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.4–0.9 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, 5–16 cm long, 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence digitate, with racemose branches. Racemes 2–3, 6–9(–15) cm long. Racemes unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing regular, 2-rowed.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, with diminished florets at the apex, cuneate, dorsally compressed, 4.5–5 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident, pubescent.

Glumes
Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous, dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma, gaping. Lower glume linear or oblong, 4–6 mm long, 100% length of upper glume, membranous, 1-nerved. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate or elliptic, 3–5 mm long, 200% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 3-nerved. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Fertile lemma elliptic or ovate, dorsally compressed, 2.3–3.4 mm long, cartilaginous or coriaceous, 3-nerved. Lemma midnerve pubescent, hairy above. Lemma margins ciliate, hairy above. Lemma apex entire, emarginate or obtuse, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn 1.5–3 mm long overall, 200% of length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1. Apical sterile florets barren, oblong. Apical sterile lemmas winged on margins (above), muticous. Anthers 3, 0.5 mm long. Grain with free soft pericarp, ellipsoid or obovoid, dorsally compressed, biconvex, 1.1–1.6 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland: Burke, South Kennedy, Gregory North, Gregory South, Mitchell, Warrego.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae

Notes
Native. Known only from a few collections in southern and NW Qld. Recorded habitats include stony, lateritic ridges, tablelands with scattered Red Mulga and Bloodwood, flat or shallow depressions in dry regions, open grassland, red soil on edges of watercourses.

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