Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) P.Beauv.

Soft-leaved, densely tufted perennials 45–90 cm, occasionally very shortly rhizomatous. Leaf-sheath distinctly ribbed, becoming keeled above, usually with long soft hairs. Ligule 1.5–3.5 mm, truncate to rounded and ± erose, short- to long-ciliate, abaxially minutely pubescent and often with longer hairs. Leaf-blade 12–24 cm × 5.5–8.5 mm, flat, soft, loosely hairy, long-narrowed to fine tip. Culm erect or spreading, rather slender, hairy at, and near nodes, internodes otherwise glabrous. Racemes 8–18 cm, erect or nodding with spikelets slightly to closely overlapping on slender rachis; pedicels 0.5–1 mm, shortly pubescent. Spikelets 2–4.5 cm, 4–12-flowered. Glumes lanceolate, acute to acuminate, sometimes shortly awned, firm, pilose especially above near margin; lower 6–9 mm, 5–7-nerved, upper 7–11 mm, 7–(9)-nerved. Lemma 9–11.5 mm, 7-nerved, oblong-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, abaxially with short, stiff hairs, adaxially glabrous; awn 10–15 mm. Palea ≤ lemma, oblong, keels stiff-ciliate, apex truncate, shorter-ciliate. Anthers 2.8–3.8 mm. Caryopsis 6–7 × 0.6–1.2 mm. Fig. 13.

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