Austrostipa tuckeri

Shortly rhizomatous perennial, culms branched, erect or decumbent, to 1 m long, nodes apparent, densely silky-pubescent. Leaves lightly pubescent or the upper ones glabrous; blade flat or inrolled, to 20 cm long and 2 mm broad; ligule glabrous, truncate, often torn at apex 2–7 mm long. Inflorescence a widely spreading, pyramidal panicle, to 20 cm long; panicle branches plumose with hairs 0.3–0.6 mm long. Glumes 6–7.5 mm long, purplish, acuminate, subequal, scabrous along nerves; lemma 4–5 mm long, dark brown at maturity, tuberculate, with short white hairs about the callus, otherwise glabrous; coma absent or very sparse, with hairs to 0.3 mm long; callus c. 0.3 mm long; awn straight or once bent, 30–35 mm long, the straight part 10–13 mm long, scabrous; palea up to about one-third as long as lemma and thinly membranous, glabrous. Flowers Sep.–Apr.