Derivation
Steinchisma Raf., Bull. Bot. [Geneve] 1: 220 (1830); from the Greek steinos (narrow) and chasma (yawning hollow). The lower floret is gaping.

hians- from the Latin hio (gape). Glumes spreading at anthesis or when anthoecium mature.

Common synonyms
Fasciculochloa sparshottiorum B.K.Simon & C.M.Weiller

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Culms erect, 30–60 cm tall, spongy, 3–4-noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode, smooth, glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Ligule a fringed membrane, 0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long, 2–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

Inflorescence
Panicle open, ovate, 15 cm long, contracted about secondary branches. Primary panicle branches spreading, 5 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous, glabrous in axils.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary or in pairs. Pedicels linear, angular, flexuous, 1 mm long, tip cupuliform. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed or terete, 2.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, falling entire.

Glumes
Glumes thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, clasping, 1 mm long, 33% of length of spikelet, membranous, 3-nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex obtuse or acute. Upper glume elliptic, 1.7 mm long, 70–80% of length of spikelet, membranous, 3–5-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic or ovate, 2.5 mm long, 100% of length of spikelet, chartaceous, 5-nerved, prominently nerved, acute. Palea of lower sterile floret 100% of length of lemma. Fertile lemma elliptic, 2.2 mm long, chartaceous, 2-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves obscure. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea embraced by lemma, chartaceous. Anthers 2, 0.75 mm long. Grain with adherent pericarp.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland: Moreton.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae

Notes
Introduced. Occupies a very restricted site in SE Qld, 9 km SSE of Logan village. Qld. Flowers Jan.–Feb.