Culms erect, to 100 cm high. Leaves glabrous to sparsely pubescent; blade loosely folded, to 35 cm long and 8(–14) mm wide, scabrous; ligule 2–5 mm long. Inflorescence a loose to somewhat contracted panicle to 20(–35) cm long. Spikelets 15–35 mm long, 4–7 mm wide (when fully expanded but prior to breaking up at maturity); lower glume 6–8 mm long, upper glume 7–10 mm long; lemma 15–35 mm long, including awn, scabrous along keel, sometimes sparsely appressed-pilose in apical part, otherwise glabrous; awn 5–10 mm long. Flowers Aug.–Dec.
GleP, VVP, GipP, Gold, CVU, HSF. Apparently rather uncommon in Victoria, from scattered localities (Portland, Terang, Ararat, Bendigo, Dandenong Ranges, Phillip Island). Also naturalised in N.S.W. and Tas. Native to South America.
