Derivation
Ischaemum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 1049 (1753); Gen. Pl. 5th edn, 469 (1754); from the Greek ischo (to restrain) and haima (blood), as woolly seeds of the type species were reported as being used to stop bleeding.

triticeum- resembling Triticum with respect to the inflorescence.

Published in
Prodr. 205 (1810).

Habit
Annual or perennial, short-lived. Culms sprawling, 50–200 cm tall, rooting from lower nodes. Mid-culm internodes 3–10 cm long. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or bearded. Lateral branches simple or branched. Leaf-sheaths loose, longer than adjacent culm internode, hirsute, with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–3.5 mm long. Leaf-blade base cordate. Leaf-blades linear or lanceolate, 6–33 cm long, 3–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib prominent beneath. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence with ramose branches. Rames single or paired or digitate, 4–10 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes, angular, ciliate on margins. Rame internodes oblong, 3.5–4 mm long, flat and forming a U or V shape with the pedicel in rear view. Rame internode tip transverse, cupiliform.

Spikelets
Spikelets in pairs, one sessile and fertile and the other (companion) spikelet pedicelled. Pedicels oblong, 80–100% of length of internode, ciliate. Companion spikelets represented by single glumes or developed, male or sterile, comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas or male, elliptic or oblong, laterally compressed, 3.5–10 mm long, as long as fertile, separately deciduous. Companion spikelet callus 3.5–6 mm long. Companion spikelet glumes chartaceous, keeled, winged on keels. Companion spikelet lemmas 2, enclosed by glumes, 1-awned. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret male, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, oblong or ovate, dorsally compressed, 6–10 mm long, falling entire, deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate, inserted.

Glumes
Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma, shiny. Lower glume oblong, 100% of length of spikelet, cartilaginous or coriaceous, 2-keeled, keeled laterally, winged on keel, winged broadly or narrowly, winged above, 5–7-nerved. Lower glume surface flat. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate, 6–7 mm long, coriaceous, 1-keeled, winged on keel, winged near apex, 5–9-nerved, midnerve ciliolate. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute, awned. Upper glume awn 4 mm long.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate, 4–5 mm long, hyaline or membranous, 7-nerved, ciliolate on margins. Fertile lemma elliptic or oblong, 3–4 mm long, membranous, 5-nerved. Lemma apex dentate, 2-fid, with linear lobes, incised 50% of lemma length, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, straight or geniculate, 8–18 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column glabrous. Palea ovate, 4 mm long. Anthers 3, 1–4 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland, New South Wales.

Queensland: Cook, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Wide Bay, Moreton. New South Wales: North Coast.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Andropogoneae

Notes
Endemic. Occurs on sandy foredunes. Flowers July–May.