Austrostipa breviglumis

Shortly rhizomatous perennial, culms usually branched, virtually erect, to 1.6 m high, up to 1 cm diam. at base, nodes apparent, glabrous. Leaves glabrous or finely scabrous; blade flat or inrolled, to 20 cm long and 1–2.5 mm broad; ligule glabrous, truncate, acute or laciniate at apex, 1–7 mm long. Inflorescence a slender, sometimes interrupted cylindric panicle, to 40 cm long. Glumes 4–6.5 mm long, green to purplish-grey, the lower up to 2 mm longer than the upper and more acute; lemma tapered to a slight neck, 3–4.5 mm long, pale brown at maturity, granular with short white hairs, absent or reduced near the scabrous neck; coma sparse, with hairs to 0.2 mm long; callus c. 0.5 mm long; awn weakly once or twice bent, 25–40 mm long, the straight part 5–9 mm long, smooth or minutely scabrous; palea 1–2 mm shorter than lemma, with a line of scattered hairs down the centre. Flowers Sep.–Dec.