Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P.Beauv.

Tufted perennials 30–65 cm, spreading by wiry, scale-covered rhizomes. Leaf-sheath rounded, glabrous or with long fine hairs, shortly pubescent at junction with leaf-blade. Ligule 1.4–1.6 mm, truncate, minutely ciliate. Leaf-blade 10–15 cm, c. 3.5 mm wide if flat, or inrolled and 1–1.5 mm diam., rather stiff, finely pointed, abaxially finely scabrid, adaxially with a few scattered hairs; margins finely scabrid. Culm erect, stiff, minutely hairy at, and near nodes, internodes otherwise glabrous. Raceme (3)–6–12 cm, spike-like, with spikelets partly overlapping and often projecting outwards; pedicels minutely pubescent, c. 1 mm. Spikelets 2–3 cm, 7–16-flowered. Glumes linear-lanceolate, acute, firm, glabrous; lower 4–4.6 mm, 3–5-nerved, upper c. 6 mm, 5–7-nerved. Lemma 8–8.5 mm, 5–7-nerved, oblong-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, abaxially smooth, or scabrid on nerves near apex, adaxially scabrid or with minute hairs just below awn base; awn 3.5–4.5 mm. Palea ≈ lemma, oblong, slightly emarginate to obtuse, keels and apex ciliate. Anthers 3.5–5 mm. Caryopsis not seen.

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