Tufted annual, culms erect, to 80 cm high. At least the lower leaves softly hairy; blade flat, to 15 cm long and 5 mm wide; ligule glabrous, laciniate, 1–2 mm long. Inflorescence a moderately dense panicle, to 20 cm long (excluding awns), branches speading, often flexuose, each with up to 8 spikelets. Spikelets nodding, shining, hairy or glabrous, 4–8-flowered, oblong, or narrowly cuneate, 12–20 mm long (excluding awns); lower glume 1-nerved, 5–9 mm long, upper glume 3-nerved, 7–13 mm long; lemma 8–12 mm long, excluding awn, dorsally rounded, with 2 membranous apical lobes 0.5–2 mm long; awn 10–18 mm long. Flowers Oct.–Nov.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, Gold, CVU, EGU. Also naturalised in NSW, Tas., New Zealand, North America, Pakistan. Native to Europe where widespread, but introduced in Britain. Known in Victoria from a few pre-1930 collections (Parkville, Moyhu, Piangil) and a 1985 collection from Barmah forest, but probably more widespread.
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.
