2n = 48

2n = 48

Caespitose wide-leaved perennial from short rhizome with long culms and large inflorescences. Branching extravaginal, occasionally with stolons rooting at nodes; cataphylls broad and shining. Leaf-sheath smooth or sometimes scabrid; keel stout, often prickled towards apex. Ligule to 0.5 mm, membranous, crenate or shallowly toothed, broadly triangular, ciliolate. Auricle 1, ± 5 mm, margin hairs 2-4 mm. Leaf-blade to 50 cm × 6-12 mm wide, bright green, keel strong, sometimes scabrid below; sharp, fine, close-set, dense antrorse prickles on margins above becoming smooth below except for auricle hairs extending for c. 1 cm; abaxially rough occasionally scabrid, occasional prickle-teeth near ligule. Culm to 1.25 m; internodes laterally compressed and conspicuously, longitudinally grooved, smooth to finely prickle-toothed. Panicle 25-65 cm, nodes widely spaced, branches filiform, > internodes; nodes with short branches of close-set spikelets and long flexuous branches to 20 cm, naked below; rachis longitudinally grooved, finely scabrid to ± smooth, branches and pedicels finely prickle-toothed. Spikelets 18-30 mm, solitary, on short or long pedicels. Glumes unequal, 1-nerved occasionally 3-nerved, margins ciliate, entire or 2 or 3-toothed especially upper; lower to 1 mm, = callus hairs, upper 1-2.5 mm > callus hairs. Lower Ø lemma 9-15-25 mm, 5-nerved, prickle-toothed especially on keel, adaxially hairy above, awn > ½ lemma length; callus hairs to 1 mm; upper Ø lemma 12-23-27 mm, 3-nerved, scabrid above, awn > ½ lemma length; callus hairs 1-2 mm. ☿ lemma 5-7-12 mm, 3-nerved, awnless and ciliate or occasionally shortly (0.5-2 mm) awned from bifid apex; callus hairs few and short. Palea 3-4-5 mm, membranous, acute, upper margins and apex ciliate. Lodicules 2, 0.6-1.2 mm, > ovary, lobed occasionally flabellate, truncate and finely erose, occasionally lobes long hairy, persistent or falling with caryopsis. Stamens (1)-2, anthers (1)-2-3-(4) mm. Gynoecium: ovary 1 mm; stigma-styles 1-1.5-2.5 mm, styles naked below. Caryopsis 2-3.5-5 mm, often falling free; embryo 0.5-0.7 mm. 2n= 48. Fig. 2. Plate 6C.