Pentameris aristidoides (Thunb.) Galley & H.P.Linder

Perennial 500-1000 mm high; rhizomes stout, usually present but may decay quickly; base swollen, basal sheaths brown and soon rotting away, hairy with straight adpressed hairs; leaves basal; linear glands present on pedicels. Leaf blade to 300 x 5-10 mm, expanded, acute, glabrous to hairy; margins smooth; sheath mouth hairy. Inflorescence open, 100-200 x 120-150 mm, with ± 35-100 spikelets; pedicels not hidden by spikelets, glabrous; axils glabrous. Spikelet 12-20 mm long; glumes acuminate apically, creamy to yellowish-brown, base and keel purple-brown, hairy; lemma 5.5-7.0 mm long, densely and tidily hairy along nerves up to upper 1/4, hairs up to 0.8 mm long, upper part glabrous or very short hairy; lobes acute, not hidden by hairs; lateral awn 7-11 mm long; exserted from glumes; central awn 20-25 mm long; palea hairy in upper half; anthers 4.5 mm long.