Austrostipa curticoma

Tufted perennial, culms erect, to 1.2 m high, nodes densely sericeous. Leaves glabrous or scabrous, sometimes sparsely pubescent; blade flat to inrolled, to 30 cm long and 2–5 mm wide when flattened out; ligule 0.5–1.5 mm long, minutely hairy abaxially with a tuft of longer hairs to 2 mm long at each side. Inflorescence a rather sparse panicle to 30 cm long. Glumes 12–16 mm long, purplish, acuminate, thinly membranous at the tip, the lower longer than upper by 2–5 mm; lemma constricted near the apex, 5.5–8 mm long, maturing to a deep reddish brown or nearly black, tuberculate, antrorsely scabrous near the apex, covered with slightly spreading white hairs, with a distinct 'bald patch' just below the neck, coma spreading, rather sparse, with hairs no longer than those of the body of the lemma (or very rarely to 2 mm); callus 1.5–2.5 mm long; awn twice bent, 35–65 mm long, 8–12 mm to the first bend, column pubescent with hairs 0.3–0.5 mm long, or virtually glabrous; palea about equal to lemma. Flowers Sep.–Dec.