Austrostipa verticillata

Long-rhizomatous or clumping, somewhat cane-like perennial, culms usually several-branched at nodes, virtually erect, to c. 2 m high, nodes glabrous. Leaves glabrous; blade flat or weakly inrolled, to c. 20 cm long and 5 mm broad, usually deciduous; ligule glabrous, erose, 2–8 mm long. Inflorescence a slender, often interrupted panicle to c. 50 cm long, the branches usually contracted. Glumes equal or the lower slightly longer, 3–4 mm long, acute to acuminate; lemma 2.7–4 mm long, equal to or slightly shorter than glumes, dark brown to nearly black at maturity, minutely tuberculate, with scattered white hairs in the lower two-thirds, more or less glabrous near the apex, coma absent; callus c. 0.2 mm long; awn falcate, 30–45 mm long, the straight part 9–15 mm long, finely scabrous; palea up to half as long as lemma, glabrous. Flowers Mar.–Apr.