Agrostis gigantea Roth

Tufted, bright green, wide-leaved perennials, 60–120 cm, with strong rhizomes; branching intra- or extravaginal, with the extravaginal shoots spreading underground as long rhizomes. Leaf-sheath smooth, or very minutely scabrid, especially near margins. Ligule 1.5–6 mm, denticulate, taller than wide. Leaf-blade 6–15 cm × 3–8 mm, flat, finely scabrid on ribs and on margins, tip acute. Culm erect or geniculate at base, sometimes trailing, internodes glabrous. Panicle 18–30 cm, pyramidal, erect, branches spreading almost horizontally; rachis usually scabrid above, branches and pedicels closely scabrid. Spikelets 1.8–2.2 mm, green or purplish. Glumes subequal, lanceolate, acute; lower = spikelet, scabrid on upper ½ of midnerve, upper usually slightly shorter, scabrid towards tip with less noticeable prickle-teeth. Lemma 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, ovate, truncate, 3–5-nerved, lateral nerves usually very shortly excurrent, midnerve sometimes produced to very short awn subapically, or dorsally ± at midpoint, usually not projecting beyond lemma tip. Palea ½-⅔ length of lemma, bifid or ± truncate. Callus usually with very short hairs. Anthers 1.3–1.6 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.5 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]