- = Agrostis petriei var. mutica Hack., Trans. New Zealand Inst. 35: 379 (1903)
Perennial, loose, tussocky, bluish green or greyish green clumps (15)–30–55 cm, with slender, strictly involute, finely scabrid leaves « culms; branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath firm, light brown; lower sheaths minutely scabrid, upper sheaths smooth, sparsely ribbed. Ligule 1–4.5 mm, obtuse to truncate, denticulate, abaxially scabrid. Leaf-blade 4–10.5–(18) cm × 0.3–1 mm, stiff and wiry, densely minutely papillose-scabrid throughout, tip obtuse. Culm erect or geniculate at base, internodes glabrous. Panicle 4–16 cm, laxly oblong; rachis smooth, branches and pedicels ± spreading, very delicate, reddish brown, finely, sparsely scabrid. Spikelets 2.5–3.4 mm, pale greenish to brownish, sometimes purplish. Glumes ± equal, lanceolate, keel and margins usually finely scabrid near acute tip. Lemma 2–2.6 mm, glabrous, 5-nerved, ovate, obtuse to truncate, minutely denticulate; awn (1.5)–2–3 mm, middorsal, straight or slightly flexuous, sometimes 0. Palea 0.2–0.4 mm, orbicular. Lodicules 0.2–0.4 mm. Callus with very few short hairs. Anthers (c. 1)–1.3–1.8 mm. Caryopsis c. 1.5 × 0.5 mm.
[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]