Aira elegans Kunth

Slender, erect, reddish green tufts 5–25–(30) cm, with very delicate loose panicles; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath submembranous, rather closely distinctly ribbed, ribs minutely scabrid almost to base. Ligule 1.5–4 mm, smooth, tapered, minutely denticulate, abaxially occasionally sparsely scabrid. Leaf-blade 1–6.5 cm × 0.2–0.3 mm diam., inrolled, abaxially minutely scabrid on ribs, adaxially with minute hairs; margins minutely scabrid, tip subacute to obtuse. Culm internodes glabrous. Panicle 2–10 × 2–8 cm, ovate, very lax; branches smooth to sparsely scabrid, capillary, spreading, pedicels » spikelets. Spikelets silvery green. Glumes 1.5–2.5 mm, 1-nerved, shining, ovate-lanceolate, acute, keel sparsely minutely scabrid, margins very finely ciliate-scabrid. Lemma 1.2–1.5 mm, firmly membranous, brownish, hyaline near apex, upper ½ minutely scabrid; lower lemma sometimes awnless, upper lemma, or both lemmas, with awn 1.8–2.5 mm, from lower ⅓ of lemma, projecting beyond glumes. Palea narrower than lemma, keels rounded, glabrous. Callus ringed by minute hairs. Rachilla minute, glabrous; prolongation vestigial. Anthers c. 0.3 mm. Caryopsis c. 1 × 0.3 mm.

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