Flora of New Zealand Series

Stiff annuals, (7.5)-10-25-(45) cm, with shoots curving upwards, reddish brown, especially near base; branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath glabrous, reddish purple. Auricles very short, c. 0.5-(1) mm, or 0. Ligule 0.4-1.2 mm, membranous, truncate. Leaf-blade (2)-6-18 cm × 1.5-4 mm, abaxially glabrous, adaxially scabrid on ribs; margins smooth, tip acute, scabrid. Culm (3)-6-30 cm, ensheathed by upper leaves, internodes glabrous. Spike (2.5)-5-20 cm, often curved; rachis 1-1.5-(2) mm wide, smooth, margins finely scabrid. Spikelets 5-10.5 mm, 2-5-flowered, less than their own length apart, usually ± concealed by glumes in concavities of rachis. Upper glume ≥ spikelet, 5-7-(9)-nerved, very stiff, lanceolate or narrowly oblong, obtuse or acute, glabrous; acutely angled to rachis at maturity. Lemma 3.5-6 mm, faintly 5-nerved, oblong or lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, smooth or finely scaberulous, not turgid at maturity, usually muticous; awn sometimes present, subterminal, short, fine, to 3 mm. Palea = lemma, keels scabrid. Anthers c. 1-1.5 mm. Caryopsis 2-3.5 × 0.7-1.3 mm.

N.: North and South Auckland, also in environs of Wellington City; K. Coastal on cliffs and sandy waste land.

Naturalised from Mediterranean.