Austrostipa platychaeta

Shortly rhizomatous perennial, culms occasionally branched, virtually erect, to 1.5 m long, nodes apparent, glabrous. Leaves glabrous, sometimes scabrous; blade flat or weakly inrolled, to 25 cm long and 8 mm broad; ligule glabrous, truncate or laciniate, 1–7 mm long. Inflorescence a sparse to dense panicle with spreading branches, to 30 cm long. Glumes 7–15 mm long, straw-coloured, acuminate, ciliate at the apex, the lower up to 5 mm longer than upper; lemma 4.5–6 mm long, dark brown at maturity, granular, with short white hairs becoming sparse toward apex; coma absent or very sparse, with hairs to 0.4 mm long; callus c. 1 mm long; awn falcate, 60–80 mm long, the straight part 8–15 mm long, scabrous, bristle flat; palea up to 1.5 mm shorter than lemma, with a line of hairs down the centre. Flowers Dec.–Feb.