Deschampsia flexuosa (L.) Trin.

Tufts 30–75 cm, with numerous, short, very narrow, tightly rolled leaves much overtopped by culms; occasionally shortly rhizomatous. Leaf-sheath submembranous, rounded, finely scabrid, striate. Ligule (0.2)–0.5–1–(3) mm, truncate, or broadly and shallowly bilobed, abaxially scabrid, tip ciliate-scabrid. Leaf-blade 4.5–15 cm × 0.3–0.6 mm diam., strongly involute, smooth, scabrid near acute tip. Culm erect, or geniculate at base, internodes glabrous. Panicle 6–13.5 cm, ± erect, lax; branches few, very slender, flexuous, scarcely scabrid, naked for some distance towards base, tipped by few spikelets. Spikelets 4.5–6 mm, silvery greenish brown or light brown, purplish near base. Glumes subequal, hyaline, elliptic, sometimes sparsely scabrid above, margins very finely scabrid; lower 4–5 mm, 1-nerved, upper ≈ spikelet, 3-nerved but lateral nerves short. Lemma 4–5 mm, elliptic-oblong, tip ± truncate, irregularly minutely denticulate, minutely scabrid in upper ⅔; awn (3.5)–5–6.5–(7) mm, fine, geniculate, column dark brown, twisted, inserted near base of lemma. Palea narrower than lemma, apex slightly notched, keels minutely scabrid, interkeel minutely scabrid above. Callus hairs 0.7–1.2 mm. Rachilla hairs to 1 mm, fine, silky. Anthers 2–3.5 mm. Caryopsis 1.7–2.5 × 0.5–0.9 mm.

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