Phleum pratense L.

Loose or dense tufts to 1 m. Leaf-sheath subcoriaceous, rounded, open, striate, glabrous, green to dark brown at base. Ligule 1–2.5–(4) mm, membranous, truncate or slightly rounded. Leaf-blade 9–17.5–(25) cm × 3–4.5 mm, flat, narrowed to finely pointed tip, striate, minutely scabrid throughout or only towards tip; margins minutely scabrid. Culm (30)–60–85 cm, erect or ascending from geniculate base, usually stout, internodes smooth, or finely scabrid below panicle; basal nodes sometimes swollen and tuberous. Panicle (4)–12–23 cm × 6–9 mm, dense, spike-like, cylindric, green, greyish green or purplish; rachis very stout, with scattered fine hairs concealed beneath spikelets, pedicels very short. Spikelets 2.5–3.5 mm, tightly packed. Glumes (3)–3.5–5 mm, oblong, truncate, 3-nerved, membranous, covered with short fine hairs, margin of lower glume softly hairy; keel stout, with large stiff hairs, and produced to a short scabrid awn (0.8)–1–1.5 mm. Lemma 1.5–2.5–(3) mm, 5–7-nerved, membranous, broadly oblong, obtuse, minutely hairy. Palea (1.2)–1.5–2–(2.5) mm. Lodicules 0.4–0.6 mm. Anthers 1.3–2.2 mm. Caryopsis slightly > 1 mm.

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