Saxipoa saxicola

Tufted or shortly rhizomatous, glabrous perennial, culms erect, to 60 cm high. Leaves rather stiff; blade flat or somewhat folded, becoming closely folded when dry, abruptly tapered to a bluntish apex, to 25 cm long and 5 mm wide (when flattened); ligule membranous, truncate but jagged, or pointed in the centre, 1–5 mm long. Inflorescence a narrow, contracted panicle with rather few, short, appressed branches, to 12 cm long and 2 cm wide (but commonly c 5 cm × 1 cm). Spikelets plump, (2–)3(–4)-flowered, 4–7 mm long, often with purplish and straw-coloured bands; glumes 3-nerved or the lower sometimes 1-nerved, subequal 3–4 mm long, firm; lemma 5-nerved, 3–4 mm long, keeled but not strongly compressed, firm, ciliate along margins below midway, otherwise glabrous; web absent. Flowers Dec.–Feb.