Stiburus alopecuroides Stapf

Tufted perennial, 170-630 mm high; rhizomatous. Leaf blade 90-360 x 2 mm, almost always overtopping inflorescence; ligule a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence a panicle, dense, compact, rarely interrupted; spikelets solitary, pedicelled. Spikelets 2.7-4.0 mm long, laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes; glumes 1-nerved; lower glume shorter than spikelet; upper glume longer than spikelet; glumes and lemmas very densely hairy, dark purple to black, apices acuminate to awned. Florets 2-6; lower florets bisexual; lemma entire, 3-nerved, mucro present or absent; anther 0.7-1.0 mm long. Flowering time Feb.-May.