Avena barbata Link

Tufts green to dark green, often very slender, 65–100–(170) cm, erect or drooping above in taller plants. Leaf-sheath smooth, or slightly scabrid above, occasionally red-tinged. Ligule 2.7–5–(9) mm, obtuse, denticulate, abaxially finely scabrid. Leaf-blade 12.5–30 cm × 2–8 mm, finely scabrid on ribs and margins. Culm internodes glabrous. Panicle (12)–18–40 cm, very lax, equilateral; rachis smooth, branches and pedicels very filiform, finely scabrid. Spikelets 40–50 mm, 2–(3)-flowered; disarticulation below each floret at maturity. Glumes 7–9-nerved. Lemma 12–18 mm, narrow-lanceolate, light brown, with long stiff reddish hairs below level of awn insertion, green and scabrid above, each lobe-tip produced to a fine bristle (2–3 mm); lemmas awned, awns 30–36 mm, geniculate, column very dark brown, twisted. Palea keels with 1–2 rows of cilia, interkeel glabrous, flanks sometimes sparsely scabrid. Callus long hairy, with horse-shoe shaped scar. Rachilla long hairy. Anthers 2–3 mm. Caryopsis 5–7 × 0.8–1.3 mm, light brown, silky hairy.

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