Compactly tufted perennials. Culms 30–65 cm high, strongly branched (fastigiate at upper nodes), terete or compressed (in lower part); internodes smooth, glabrous. Leaves: ligule 0.5–1 mm long; blade flat or conduplicate, to 30 cm long, to 3.5 mm wide. Inflorescences 16–25 cm long, 12–23 cm wide, ±open; branches not appressed, to 8 cm long, naked at base. Glumes normal, notched or entire, scabrous on keel, glabrous; lower glume 10–22 mm long, aristulate, 1-nerved; upper glume 13–24 mm long, acute, 1–3-nerved. Lemma 12–21 mm long, intermediate in length between glumes, convolute, smooth or scabrous apically, without an articulation or pseudoarticulation; column absent; awns slightly but visibly unequal; median awn gently curved, 23–30 mm long; lateral awns 19–25 mm long. Caryopsis terete or fusiform, 8–10.5 mm long, ±twice embryo length or more.
Grows in Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), Eucalyptus, Bluegrass downs (Dichanthium spp.), and Mitchell Grass (Astrebla spp.) communities on clays and loams.
Home