Nassella tenuissima

Tufted perennial, culms shorter than or shortly exceeding leaves, to 0.7 m high, nodes pubescent but usually concealed by leaf-sheaths. Leaves smooth; blade involute, filiform, to c. 50 cm long and 0.5 mm diam.; ligule membranous, glabrous, truncate, continuous with margins of sheath, 0.5–2.5 mm long. Inflorescence a wispy slender panicle with ascending branches, remaining loosely contracted at maturity, its base sometimes retained within the upper leaf sheath, sometimes falling as a whole at maturity. Glumes unequal, acuminate, the lower 8–10 mm long, upper 5–7 mm long; lemma narrow-ellipsoid, 2–3 mm long, straw-coloured at maturity, antrorsely scabrous throughout; coma rudimentary, of 1-several rows of spines or bristles to 0.5 mm long; callus c. 0.3 mm long with white hairs to c. 1 mm long; awn weakly geniculate, 45–80 mm long, nor or hardly twisting, scabrous; palea hyaline, c. 1 mm long. Flowers Sep.–Dec.