Citation: P. Beauv. ex Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2:615 (1817).

Synonymy: Festuca fusca L., Sp. Pl. edn 2:109 (1762); F. reptatrix L., Sp. Pl. edn 2:108 (1762); D. reptatrix (L.) Druce, Brit. Pl. List 129 (1928); D. muelleri Benth., Fl. Aust. 7:619 (1878).

Common name: Brown (or pale) beetlegrass.

Description:
Perennial, 20 cm to 1 m high, almost glabrous; leaves long, with loose sheaths.

Panicle 10-40 cm long, with erect branches; spikelets linear, light- or lead-coloured, 6-14-flowered, 10-15 mm long; first glume 3.5-4 mm long, the second 4.5-5 mm long; lemma 4-5 mm long, the mid-nerve produced into an awn or mucro about as long as or a little longer than the acute or rounded often toothed lateral lobes, the nerves silky-villous in the lower half; palea also ciliate with long hairs on the nerves.

Published illustration: Burbidge (1968) Australian grasses 2:pl. 5; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 88.

Distribution:  Grows in or near wet places.   All mainland States.   Africa and south-east Asia. Conservation status: native Flowering time: throughout the year.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Highly palatable.

Author: Not yet available