Chloris virgata

Tufted or stoloniferous annual or short-lived perennial, culms ascending to erect, often branched near base, to 90 cm high; leaves glabrous, or hairy along the margins near the ligule; blade scabrous, flat or folded, to 20 cm long and 5 mm wide when flattened out. Inflorescence an umbel of 7–19 spikes, 4–12 cm long. Spikelets with 1 fertile and 1 reduced barren floret; lower glume c. 2 mm, the upper 3–4 mm long; fertile lemma acute, 3–3.5 mm long, upper margin with a tuft of white silky hairs 2–4 mm long, awn 6–12 mm long; sterile lemma truncate, c. 2 mm long, glabrous, with an awn 4–7 mm long. Flowers Feb.–Aug.