2n = 84

Robust, lax tufts. Leaf-sheath glabrous, ± striate, lower ± purplish. Ligule 2-3 mm, chartaceous, ± irregularly rounded. Leaf-blade to 70 cm × 8-12 mm, abaxially ± glabrous, adaxially scabrid on prominent ribs; margins glabrous or prickle-toothed. Culm to 130 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 20-30 cm, erect, nodding above, and lower branches also nodding; branches binate at nodes, very slender, naked for ½ to ¾ length, spikelets crowded distally; pedicels 0.5-2 mm, villous. Glumes unequal, membranous, scarious, glabrous, ovate, acute, keeled, 3-nerved; lower 6-7 mm, mostly ≥ lower floret, upper 7-8 mm, > second floret. Florets pale straw-coloured. ♂ florets: lemma 5-6.5 mm, oblong-ovate, lobes c. 1 mm, chartaceous with scarious tips, long hairs on keel below, minutely scabrid above, margins ciliate with soft, silvery hairs; awns 3.5-6 mm, slender, ± straight, insertion 3-4 mm above base; palea 4-5.5 mm, membranous, irregularly finely scabrid on keels; lodicules 1-1.6 mm, ± ovate, lobed, acute, glabrous; callus hairs to 1.25 mm; anthers 2-3 mm. ☿ floret: lemma 4.5-6 mm, narrow-ovate, glabrous, apex minutely hairy, muticous to subapically mucronate 0.25-0.5 mm; palea 4-5.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, keel 1-(2) finely irregularly ciliate; lodicules 0.75-1 mm, ovate-oblong, abruptly tapering, often lateral lobed, glabrous; anthers 1-1.5 mm; gynoecium: ovary c. 1 mm, stigma-styles 4-5 mm; caryopsis c. 2 mm, embryo 0.5 mm, hilum 0.75 mm. Fig. 11. Plate 5D.

Plant perennial, robust, laxly tufted. Culms to 130 cm tall, with 4-5 elongated internodes. 2-3 cataphylls usually present at base, up to 5 cm and more long. Leaf sheath 15-30 cm long, glabrous more or less striated, lower somewhat purple. Ligule 2-3 mm long, somewhat irregularly rounded chartaceous. Collar distinct, somewhat pulvinate, more or less purple. Leaf blade to 70 cm long, 8-12 mm wide, flat, tapering, glabrous on abaxial surface, scabrid and deeply striated on adaxial. Vascular bundles up to about 40, fairly uniform. Sclerenchyma discontinuous, connected to bundles, forming T strands under flat adaxial ridges. Peduncles to 50 cm long. Panicles 20-30 cm long, erect, with nodding upper part and lower branches, glabrous. Branches geminate, to 12 cm long, very slender, bare 0.5 to 0.75 length, with sDikelets crowding along distal parts. Pedicels 0.5-2 mm long, villous. Glumes unequal, lower 6 mm long, shorter than nearest floret, upper 7 mm long, slightly longer than nearest floret, membranous, scarious, smooth, ovate, acute, keeled with distinct middle nerve extending to the apex, lateral nerves 0.25 as long to very short or none in the lower glume. Rachilla very short, sinuous, glabrous. Florets pale more or less stramineous at maturity. Male florets lemmas 6-6.5 mm long, oblong ovate, chartaceous with scarious tips, minutely scabrid, villous below and on callus, margins sparsely ciliate with soft silvery hairs. Awns subapical, unequal, 2-4 mm long, slender, fairly straight. Paleas about equalling lemmas, wide, membranous, finely scabrid on keels. Lodicules about 0.5 mm long, more or less ovate, acute. Anthers about 3 mm long. Bisexual floret about 5 mm long, narrow ovate, smooth below tip, tip minutely hairy, muticous to mucronate, mucro subapical. Palea about equalling lemma, ovate lanceolate, finely scabrid on keel. Lodicules about 2 mm long, ovate oblong, abruptly tapering, small side lobes frequently present. Anthers 2, or occasionally 3 about 3 mm long, fertile. Stigmas long plumose.