Entolasia marginata (R.Br.) Hughes

Scrambling, shortly rhizomatous, variable in size, with ± trailing culms often rooting at lower nodes, branched near base; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath light green, becoming pale dull brown, closely enwrapping lower half of internode, later loose, submembranous, striate, with fine tubercle-based hairs, or glabrous with a fringe of tubercle-based hairs just inside margin. Ligule composed of hairs 0.3–1 mm, hairs extending as a contra-ligule. Collar hairs few, short. Leaf-blade 2.5–8–(15) cm × 3–8 mm, firm to rather rigid, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, truncate to ± rounded at base, flat, glabrous or with a few scattered tubercle-based hairs, adaxially minutely scabrid on ribs, shortly pubescent above ligule; margins somewhat thickened, minutely scabrid. Culm 20–85 cm, slender and wiry, nodes usually pubescent, internodes smooth, to finely scabrid above, with scattered, fine, tubercle-based hairs below panicle. Panicle (2)–3–10–(16) cm, ± erect, linear or lanceolate, with short, appressed to slightly spreading branches covered with spikelets to base; rachis ± planoconvex, occasionally with a few tubercle-based hairs near base; branches bearing a few short racemes or reduced to a single raceme, axils pubescent. Racemes 1–4 cm; rachis flattened, angled, finely scabrid. Spikelets c. 2.5–3 mm, pale green, elliptic-lanceolate, acute to subacuminate. Lower glume 0.7–1.2 mm, upper glume = spikelet. Lower floret: lemma = spikelet, 5-nerved, » lemma of upper floret and curved in above towards acute tip. Upper floret: lemma 1.7–2.3 mm, coriaceous, pubescent with fine white hairs; palea similarly pubescent as lemma; anthers 0.5–1 mm; caryopsis c. 1 × 0.8 mm, elliptic-oblong.

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