Pentapogon R.Br.

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) as Dichelachne Endl.]