Tetraria robusta C.B.Clarke

Perennial herb, tufted, robust, 1.5-1.8 m high. Leaves: sheaths entire, firm; blades 6-8 mm wide, V-shaped. Culm nodose, 3-angled, 3.5-5.5 mm in diam. Inflorescence a dense, erect, compound panicle 300-450 x 25-37 mm, with 1 or 2 erect branches from each of upper nodes, bearing ± dense clusters of many spikelets. Subtending bracts sheathing culm; blades leaf-like, relatively short. Spikelets ± compressed, lanceolate, 14-18 mm long; flowers 2, lower male, upper bisexual. Glumes: fertile lanceolate, ± 13 mm long, keel excurrent into minute point. Perianth of variable number of small, linear, scabrid bristles. Flowering time (Oct.) Feb.-Apr. Nutlet elliptic, ± 5.5 mm long, shining, reddish brown, crowned by small style base, surface wrinkled.