Pentameris scabra Steud.

Loosely tufted perennial 100-400 mm high; base glabrous; basal sheaths brown, soon rotting away; leaves cauline; culms spreading; stalked, crateriform or convex glands rare to absent on leaf margins, but common on pedicels and glumes. Leaf blade 35-100 x to 4 mm, expanded, rigid; margins smooth; sheath mouth glabrous or with a ring of bristles. Inflorescence usually open, 15-40 x 10-40 mm, with 5-150 spikelets; pedicels glabrous or with glands; axils glabrous or rarely hairy. Spikelet 5-7 mm long; glumes acuminate, silvery-green to purple; glabrous or scaberulous basally; lemma 2.5-3.0 mm long, hairy; lateral awns 4-7 mm long, usually exserted from glumes; central awn 12-14 mm long; palea glabrous or hairy; anthers 2.3-3.0 mm long.