Trisetum spicatum subsp. australiense

Tufted perennial, culms erect, to 60 cm high, glabrous to densely velutinous just below the inflorescence. Lower leaves usually glabrous, upper leaves sometimes sparsely pubescent to velutinous; blade flat or weakly inrolled, to 15 cm long and 10 mm wide; ligule membranous, laciniate or ciliate, 1–2 mm long. Inflorescence at maturity a spike-like panicle, mostly 5–12 cm long, sometimes interrupted and often spreading at anthesis. Spikelets 2–(rarely 3)-flowered, 4.5–7 mm long, shining; glumes 3.5–6 mm long, membranous, usually partly purplish when young, the lower c. 1 mm shorter than upper; lemma 4.5–6 mm long, shortly bifid at apex, glabrous to minutely pubescent; awn recurved, 3–6 mm long, inserted 1–2.5 mm below apex of lemma; palea oblong, bifid at apex, hyaline, slightly shorter than lemma. Flowers Dec.–Feb.