Austrostipa nivicola

Tufted perennial, culms erect, to 80 cm high, nodes glabrous or pubescent. Leaves glabrous; sheath purple; blade involute, to 20 cm long and 1 mm diam., pungent at apex; ligule ciliate 0.4–1.5 mm long. Inflorescence a sparse, 8–20-flowered panicle to 20 cm long. Glumes 18–25 mm long, purplish at first, acute, the lower 1–5 mm longer than upper; lemma 11–15 mm long, brown at maturity, granular to minutely scabrous, with appressed golden hairs at least in the lower part; callus 2–3.5 mm long; awn twice bent, 80–110 mm long, 45–60 mm to the first bend; palea about equal to lemma, glabrous. Flowers Nov.–Feb.