Echinochloa microstachya

Tufted annual. Culms erect, to 100 cm high. Leaves glabrous; blade flat, 7–20 cm long and 4–11 mm wide, margins often undulate. Panicle 6–13 cm long, partially enclosed in upper sheath at maturity; primary branches more or less appressed to main axis, 2–5 cm long, scabrous, with several bristles subtending each group of spikelets. Spikelets 3–3.7 mm long (excluding awns); lower glume 3–5-nerved, ovate, c. 1 mm long, glabrous or hairy, mucronate; upper glume 5-nerved, as long as spikelet (excluding awns), acuminate or with an awn to c. 1 mm, dorsally rounded, bristly along the nerves, often pubescent between nerves; lower floret neuter; lower lemma equal to upper glume but flat, acuminate or with an awn to 8 mm long, palea slightly shorter than body of lemma, membranous; upper lemma subequal to spikelet, dorsally rounded, smooth, pale, tapered evenly to thinner, but firm apical point 0.5–0.8 mm long; upper palea subequal to lemma. Flowers Nov.–Apr.