Tufted perennial, culms erect, to 70(–100) cm high. Leaves grey-green, glabrous; blade folded to inrolled, to 14(–25) cm long and 1 mm wide; ligule blunt, 3–6 mm long. Inflorescence ovate, to 20 cm long and 12 cm wide. Spikelets 4–8(–13)-flowered, 4–10 mm long; lower glume 1.2–2.3 mm long, upper glume 1.9–3.5 mm long; lemma 2.4–3.4 mm long, smooth, with a minute tuft of hairs near the base on the lateral nerves; palea equal to lemma; anthers 1.3–2.1 mm long. Flowers Oct.–Jan.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, GipP, Gold, DunT. Also naturalised WA, NSW. Native to Turkey. Recorded from saline ground in Melbourne suburbs (e.g. Mordialloc, Moonee Ponds) and Winchelsea, Dimboola.
Originally introduced (erroneously as Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl.) in Victoria as a pasture option on salted land and appears to have establsihed in a few areas, but apparently not common. Although a species from Turkey, the type specimen was collected from Western Australia after being cultivated in that State from Turkish seed.
