Derivation
Enteropogon Nees, in Lindl., Intr. Nat. Syst. Bot. 2nd edn, 448 (1836); from the Greek enteron (intestine) and pogon (a beard), perhaps alluding to the beards on the callus or in the axils of the spikes.

paucispiceus- from the Latin paucus (few), spica (thorn) and -eus (resembling). Inflorescence with few branches.

Published in
Austrobaileya 2: 1 (1984).

Common synonyms
Enteropogon unispiceus (Lazarides) B.K.Simon var. paucispiceus Lazarides

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Culms slender, 44–60 cm tall, 2–4-noded. Mid-culm internodes mid-green or glaucous. Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched or branched. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform, flat or involute, 3–10 cm long, 0.5–1.7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches. Spikes 2–4, unilateral, 5–11 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis, lax, regular.

Spikelets
Spikelets appressed, solitary. Fertile spikelets at least 3-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 4–5 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus 0.8–1.2 mm long. Floret callus glabrous, obtuse.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma, gaping. Lower glume lanceolate, 2–3.6 mm long, 50–75% length of upper glume, membranous, 1-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acuminate, muticous or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, 4.1–5.3 mm long, 75–80% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Upper glume lateral nerves absent. Upper glume apex acuminate, mucronate or awned. Upper glume awn 0–1 mm long.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate or elliptic or oblong, dorsally compressed, 4.8–7 mm long, cartilaginous or coriaceous, 3-nerved. Lemma surface smooth or scaberulous, rough above. Lemma apex entire, acuminate,1-awned. Median (principal) awn 8–12.8 mm long overall. Palea 2-nerved. Palea apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets 1(–2) in number. Apical sterile florets linear or lanceolate. Apical sterile lemmas acute,1-awned. Apical sterile lemma awns 3–4 mm long. Grain flattened, concavo-convex, 2–5 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland: Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Moreton, Port Curtis, Warrego.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae

Notes
Endemic. SE Qld, from the coast to c. 600 km inland.

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