Australopyrum velutinum

Tufted or shortly rhizomatous perennial. Culms covered with velvety hairs, erect, to 40 cm high. Leaves usually covered, at least when young, by short fine pubescence; blade erect, flat or folded, 4–12 cm long and 2–4 mm wide; ligule a minute ciliate rim; auricles small and pointed or lacking. Inflorescence compact, more or less distichous, 2–5 cm long, of 5–10 spikelets. Spikelets 5–8-flowered, rigid, ovate, c. 1 cm long; glumes sub-equal, lanceolate, 6–8 mm long, tapered to a short pungent awn, thickish, 3–9-nerved, usually scabrous along midrib; lemma resembling glumes but slightly longer and less prominently nerved; palea about equal to body of lemma. Flowers Dec.–Feb.