Tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial, culms erect, to 1.3 m high, nodes pubescent. Leaves usually glabrous, sometimes scabrous, rarely pubescent; blade inrolled to involute, to 30 cm long and 1 mm diam., rarely loosely inrolled and to 3 mm broad; ligule ciliate 0.5–2 mm long. Inflorescence an open or loosely contracted panicle to 25 cm long, often appearing one-sided. Glumes 16–29 mm long, purplish or green, acute, the lower 3–7 mm longer than upper; lemma 9.5–13 mm long, brown at maturity, finely granular, with appressed, white to tawny hairs on the lower half; callus 2.5–3.5 mm long; awn twice bent, 55–95 mm long, 25–50 mm to the first bend, column scabrous with hairs less than 0.2 mm long; palea about equal to lemma, glabrous. Flowers Sep.–Nov.
MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also SA, NSW, Tas. Widespread and common throughout the lowlands, mostly near the coast, occurring in woodland, grassland and coastal heathland, usually on sandy or sandstone-derived soils, rarely on basalt.
