Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koeler

Sprawling annual tufts, rooting at nodes to form loose mats. Leaf-sheath folded, striate, stiff, light green with numerous, spreading to retrorse, fine tubercle-based hairs. Ligule 1–2 mm, membranous, glabrous, truncate to rounded, erose. Leaf-blade 3–6 cm × (3)–3.5–5–(6) mm, soft, linear, usually with scattered to dense fine hairs, ribs usually scabrid especially above, sometimes smooth; margins scabrid, narrowed rather abruptly to acute tip. Culm (15)–20–40 cm, erect to decumbent, internodes glabrous. Racemes 2–9, (3)–6–8.5–(11.5) cm, slender, closely digitate to approximate, spreading; rachis 3-angled, winged, 0.4–0.8 mm wide, scabrid on angles and often near base; pedicels scabrid on angles with longer prickle-teeth. Spikelets 2.5–3 mm, in pairs, lanceolate, acute, light green or purplish, laterally hairy, hairs fine, acute-tipped. Lower glume (0.2)–0.3–0.5 mm, triangular, acute to obtuse, nerveless, glabrous, upper 1.5–2.2 mm, c. ⅔ length of spikelet, 3-nerved, margins long-hairy. Lower floret: lemma = spikelet, 3–5-nerved, nerves glabrous, outer internerves long-hairy. Upper floret: lemma ≈ spikelet, acute, yellowish or purplish; palea ≈ lemma, acute; anthers 0.8–1.3 mm, purple; stigmas purple; caryopsis c. 1.5–2 mm, oblong.

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