Slender, few-leaved annual to 40 cm high. Leaves softly hairy; blade to 10 cm long and 1–5 mm wide; ligule obtuse, 1–4 mm long. Inflorescence ovate to oblong, 2–8 cm long. Spikelets 3–4.5 mm long (excluding awns); glumes subequal, enclosing florets, hairy along keel, purplish when young, both with a fine apical awn 2–4 mm long; lemma of bisexual lower floret c. 2 mm long, awnless; lemma of upper floret often sterile, c. 1.2 mm long, with a strongly bent awn c. 2 mm long. Flowers Nov.–Feb.
Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, HSF, HNF, OtR, MonT, VAlp. The number of recent collections of this grass suggests that its range is increasing, particularly through the drier Midlands (e.g. Creswick area) where it has become a major weed of grass-seed crops.
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.
