Koeleria macrantha
(Ledeb.) Schult. Crested Hair-grassTufted or shortly rhizomatous perennial, culms erect, to 60 cm high. Leaves softly hairy or rarely, glabrous; blade flat, to 20 cm long and 3 mm wide; ligule 1–2 mm long, toothed and ciliate at apex. Inflorescence a spike-like panicle, sometimes lobed or interrupted near base. Spikelets mostly 3-flowered, 5–7 mm long; glumes 3-nerved, subequal, oblong, 4.5–6.5 mm long, smooth and shining, with pale membranous margins, usually somewhat purplish; lemma 3–5-nerved, the lower one equal to or slightly exceeding glumes, firm and scabrous except for the membranous margins, unawned or with a fine subapical to apical awn to 1.5 mm long; palea c. equal to lemma. Flowers Nov.–Jan.
VVP, VRiv, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also NSW, ACT. Indigenous and widespread through Europe, temperate Asia, North America. Scattered and infrequent in the drier subalps (e.g. Macalister, Mitchell and Tambo River catchments), often on shallow, rocky soils.
Some doubt exists as to whether this species is conspecific with the highly variable Koeleria macrantha, or a distinct, endemic, native species (i.e. K. australiensis Domin). The sparse distribution and constancy of environment is certainly comparable to many other native grasses of the high country and it is here regarded as native, but on the basis of relatively few specimens existing in Australian herbaria, no clear distinctions of these from such a polymorphic species as K. macrantha can be made readily. It is regarded as naturalised in New South Wales.
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
