Sporobolus elongatus R.Br.

Perennials, in dense strict clumps > 1 m; branching intravaginal. Leaf-sheath very light green to creamy brown, subcoriaceous or somewhat chartaceous, glabrous; margins sometimes short-ciliate below ligule. Ligule c. 0.3 mm. Collar hairs to 1 mm. Leaf-blade 15–45 cm ×c. 1 mm diam., inrolled, or flat and 2–4 mm wide, abaxially glabrous, adaxially finely scabrid on ribs; margins finely scabrid, long-tapered to fine tip. Culm internodes glabrous. Panicle 14–30 cm, ± lax with obvious, ascending branches, lowest branches often very distant and up to 2 cm; rachis ± smooth, branches sparsely scabrid bearing spikelets in dense spike-like clusters. Spikelets 1.5–2.5 mm, leaden green. Glumes unequal, < lemma; lower 0.5–0.8 mm, nerveless, oblong-elliptic, obtuse, upper 0.8–1.5 mm, 1-nerved, ovate-elliptic, subacute. Lemma = spikelet, faintly 3-nerved, elliptic-lanceolate, subacute. Palea ≤ lemma, narrowly truncate. Stamens 2; anthers 0.4–0.7 mm, yellow. Caryopsis 0.7–1.2 × 0.5–0.7 mm, oblong-ellipsoid, truncate.

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