Hierochloe cuprea Zotov

Laxly tufted, ± robust. Leaf-sheath ± striate, glabrous. Ligule 1–2 mm, long ciliate, abaxially hairy, chartaceous, scarious. Collar thick, glabrous. Leaf-blade 20–40 cm × 6–12 mm, tapered, abaxially glabrous, adaxially prickle-toothed on prominent rounded ribs; margins finely toothed. Culm 30–60 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 10–20 cm, lax, spreading; branches 1–2 at each node, naked below, glabrous, ± slender and often drooping, spikelets few towards tip; pedicels to 10 mm, scabrid to villous above. Glumes subequal, ovate, acute, membranous, scarious, glabrous, 3-nerved; upper glume 6–7.5 mm. Florets included by glumes, ± glistening coppery at maturity. ♂ florets: lemma 4–6.5 mm, lobes 0.5–1 mm, erose, tip scarious, scabrid, appressed long hairs on keel to sinus, margins densely long-ciliate; awns 2–6 mm, slender, ± straight, insertion c. 1 mm below apex; palea 3–4 mm, membranous, keels ciliate; lodicules c. 1 mm, ± ovate, acute, irregularly 1–2-lobed, glabrous; anthers (1)–1.5 mm. ☿ floret: lemma 3–3.5 mm, ovate, glabrous and shining, apex with conspicuous long hispid hairs; mucro slender, 0.6–1.5 mm, subapical, ≈ hairs; palea ≈ lemma, ovate-lanceolate, apex pointed ciliate, keel ciliate above; lodicules 0.6–1 mm, glabrous; anthers 0.9–1.6 mm; gynoecium: ovary c. 1 mm, stigma-styles c. 3.5 mm; caryopsis 1.5–1.8 × 0.7 -0.9 mm, shortly beaked, embryo 0.5 mm, hilum c. 0.5 mm.

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