Fuirena hirsuta (Bergius) P.L.Forbes

Perennial herb, tufted or long-rhizomatous, 0.45-1.09 m high. Leaves with sheaths hirsute to glabrous; blades well developed at upper nodes, ± 4 mm wide. Culm nodose, ± terete, 0.8-1.2 in diam. below inflorescence. Inflorescence terminal, of 1-3 heads, 2nd and 3rd heads ± sessile; heads globose, (6-)15(-20) mm, congested. Subtending bracts 2 or 3, unequal, leaf-like. Spikelets squarrose, ovate, excl. projecting awns 6-8 x 3-4 mm. Glumes: fertile oblong, oblong-obovate, incl. awn ± 5 mm long, keel excurrent into 1.5-2.0 mm long awn. Perianth: outer whorl of 3 antrorsely hairy bristles or absent; inner whorl of 3 stalked, aristate scales. Flowering time Jan.-Dec. Nutlet stalked, broadly obovate, ± 1.3 mm long incl. beak and stalk, 3-angled, dark yellow; pericarp epidermal cells very small.