Shortly rhizomatous perennial. Culms erect, to 60 cm high; base of plant thickened and hairy. Leaves glabrous, or with scattered, tubercle-based hairs, sometimes subvelutinous; blade flat, 3–12 cm long, 1–7 mm wide; ligule truncate, 1–6 mm long. Panicle 5–15 cm long, composed of 1–6 one-sided racemes to 10 cm long, not whorled, appressed or spreading. Spikelets c. 3 mm long (exceeded by the dense silky hairs from the upper glume and lower lemma), mostly paired, on unequal pedicels, the longer pedicel to c. 4 mm; lower glume obtuse to truncate, c. 1 mm long; upper glume 3-nerved, acute, as long as the spikelet; lower lemma 5–7-nerved, equal to upper glume; palea of lower floret vestigial or absent; upper (bisexual) floret subequal to spikelet, lemma shortly acuminate, dorsally rounded, finely granular. Flowers Jan.–Mar.
Wim, VRiv, NIS, EGU. All mainland states. Rare in Victoria where known from scattered dry, rocky localities in the north of the state (e.g. Wycheproof, Charlton area, Suggan Buggan).
Source:
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
