Austrostipa rudis

Tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial, culms erect, to 1.3 m high, nodes pubescent. Leaves usually scabrous, sometimes shortly pubescent, rarely smooth and glabrous; blade inrolled, folded or flat, to 40 cm long and 5 mm broad; ligule ciliate 0.5–2 mm long. Inflorescence an open panicle to 50 cm long. Glumes 8–15 mm long, purplish or green, truncate, subequal or the lower up to 3 mm longer than upper; lemma 5–11.5 mm long, pale to deep reddish brown at maturity, scabrous at least near apex, with appressed white or tawny hairs on the lower half, sometimes extending to apex of lemma to form a short sparse coma; callus 0.8–3.2 mm long; awn twice bent, 30–90 mm long, 5–30 mm to the first bend, column scabrous to shortly pubescent with hairs to 0.3 mm long; palea slightly shorter than lemma with a line of sparse hairs down the centre.