Eragrostis basedowii Jedwabn.

Tufted annuals, (2.5–) 7–26 (–55) cm high. Culms erect to decumbent or prostrate, to 60 cm long, usually branched and fastigiate. Leaves sometimes pilose; sheaths overlapping; ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.3–0.4 mm long; blade flat or loosely rolled, straight, 3–10 (–26) cm long, 2–3.5 (–5) mm wide. Panicles terminal and axillary. Terminal panicles spiciform, sometimes interrupted in lower part, (1.5–) 2.5–6 (–20) cm long, 1–6 cm wide; branches divided, entirely spikelet-bearing. Spikelets sessile or almost so, in compact often reflexed clusters, ovate to linear-oblong, laterally compressed, (7.5–) 11–16 (–40) mm long, 2–5 mm wide; rachilla straight; florets (10–) 18–30 (–54), finally loosely overlapping. Glumes persistent, unequal, membranous to coriaceous, with a scabrous keel; lower glume linear to ovate, 1.2–2.2 mm long; upper glume lanceolate to ovate, 1.5–3 mm long. Lemma oblong to lanceolate, (2–) 2.7–3.8 (–4.5) mm long, ±obtuse, sometimes mucronulate, curved to gibbous, membranous becoming indurated, finally granular-scabrid. Palea: body linear-oblong; keels thick, with spiny hairs 0.2–0.8 mm long; flaps narrower than body, coriaceous to indurated, granularscabrid. Stamens 3; anthers c. 0.2 mm long. Grain ovoid, laterally compressed, 0.4–0.8 mm long, obtuse, truncate at base, pale brown, striolate.

Occurs in or near watercourses, clay pans, lagoons, salinedepressions, and sand ridges; in clayey, sandy or loamy soils, sometimes withlaterite.