Tussock of modest stature with persistent sheaths and soft laminae weathering in situ. Sheaths to 15 cm, dark brown below lighter above, persistent, intemerve hairs minute or short, tuft of hairs at apex to 2 mm. Ligule to 0.6 mm. Lamina to 60 cm × 5 mm, flat or shallowly U-shaped, persistent, abaxially glabrous except for prickle teeth towards apex and occasionally some long hairs towards base, adaxially with rows of short hairs at base, abundant prickle teeth; margin with long hairs below, prickle teeth above. Culms to 60 cm, glabrous, or sheath and internode long hairy, sometimes purpled. Inflorescence to 25 cm, open, pulvinate, glabrous except for few long hairs at branch axils and some hairs occasionally below spikelet. Spikelet of up to 7 florets. Glumes subequal, to 13 mm, glabrous, acute or occasionally bifid or mucronate, > adjacent lemma lobes; lower 3-nerved, upper 5-nerved. Lemma to 5 mm; hairs dense at margin and aside central nerve, shorter in other intemerves or rarely absent, > sinus; lateral lobes to 7.5 mm including 3 mm awn, infrequently long triangular-acute; central awn to 12 mm from twisting column to 3.5 mm. Palea to 7.5 mm. Callus to 1 mm, hairs to 3 mm. Rachilla to 1 mm. Lodicules to 1 mm. Anthers to 4 mm. Gynoecium: ovary to 1 mm, stigma-styles to 3 mm. Caryopsis to 3.25 mm.

2n = 42

2n = 42

Tussock of modest stature with persistent sheaths and soft leaf-blades weathering in situ. Leaf-sheath to 15 cm, dark brown below lighter above, persistent, interrib hairs minute or short, apical tuft of hairs to 2 mm. Ligule to 0.6 mm. Leaf-blade to 60 cm × 5 mm, flat or shallowly U-shaped, persistent, abaxially glabrous except for prickle-teeth towards apex and occasionally some long hairs towards base, adaxially with rows of short hairs at base, abundant prickle-teeth; margin with long hairs below, prickle-teeth above. Culm to 60 cm, glabrous, or sheath and internode long hairy, sometimes empurpled. Inflorescence to 25 cm, open, pulvinate, glabrous except for few long hairs at branch axils and some hairs occasionally below spikelet. Spikelet of up to 7 florets. Glumes subequal, to 13 mm, glabrous, acute or occasionally bifid or mucronate, > adjacent lemma lobes; lower 3-nerved, upper 5-nerved. Lemma to 5 mm; hairs dense at margin and aside central nerve, shorter in other internerves or rarely absent, > sinus; lateral lobes to 7.5 mm including 3 mm awn, infrequently long triangular-acute; central awn to 12 mm from twisting column to 3.5 mm. Palea to 7.5 mm. Callus to 1 mm, hairs to 3 mm. Rachilla to 1 mm. Lodicules to 1 mm. Anthers to 4 mm. Gynoecium: ovary to 1 mm; stigma-styles to 3 mm. Caryopsis to 3.25 mm. 2n= 42. Plate 9B.

C. rigidae affinis differt autem statura minore, 40-80 cm, et in his quidem foliorum characteribus: vaginae hebetiore colore, fuscae, ±membranaceae, ad maturitatem sensim pereuntes; laminae ad basim 3-4 mm latae, ±planae vel involutae; fasciculi vascuiares numero circiter 15; sclerenchyma abaxiale, nisi in marginibus, in discretis fasciis ad fasciculos adjunctis dispositum. Panicula folia parum excedens, 8-16 cm longa, laxa, effusa, spiculae paucae, 4-6-fforae. Glumae subaequales, ovato-lanceolatae, spiculas fere aequantes.