Information

Robust perennial with a c. 5 mm thick horizontal woody rhizome and crowded stems; roots sometimes with tomentum; stems 60–90 cm long and 1–2 mm thick, terete, but sometimes obtusely triangular above, with very weak longitudinal ridges, glabrous. Leaves from the lower 20 cm only; sheaths straw-coloured to, particularly in the lowermost coriaceous ones, bright reddish brown, glabrous; blades to 30 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, flat or rounded-canaliculate, stiff and coriaceous, minutely scabrid on margin and midrib. Inflorescence a 4–6 cm wide anthela of 1 sessile spherical group of spikelets (capitulum) and 2–4 stalked globose groups of spikelets; each capitulum 9–16 mm in diam. and consisting of 20–50 spikelets; involucral bracts 5–7, erect or spreading, leaf-like, the largest 10–20 cm long and 1–2 mm wide; peduncles 2–4 cm long, somewhat flattened, glabrous; rhachis of capitula with prominent round cushion-like outgrowths from where the spikelets begins. Spikelets 5–8 x 1–1.5 mm, almost cylindrical, narrowly lanceolate with acute apex, 3–4-flowered, falling off entire when mature. Fertile glumes 3.5–4 mm long, ovate, with obtuse or subacute apex, light reddish brown to somewhat golden with indistinct lateral nerves; midrib 3-nerved and in the lowermost glume excurrent into a very short mucro. Stamens 2–3. Style 4–5 mm long, with 3 branches. Nutlet c. 1.5 x 0.5 mm, elliptic, triangular, grey to dark reddish brown, minutely papillose, apiculate.

Information

Robust perennial with a c. 5 mm thick horizontal woody rhizome and crowded stems; roots sometimes with tomentum; stems 60–90 cm long and 1–2 mm thick, terete, but sometimes obtusely triangular above, with very weak longitudinal ridges, glabrous. Leaves from the lower 20 cm only; sheaths straw-coloured to, particularly in the lowermost coriaceous ones, bright reddish brown, glabrous; blades to 30 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, flat or rounded-canaliculate, stiff and coriaceous, minutely scabrid on margin and midrib. Inflorescence a 4–6 cm wide anthela of 1 sessile spherical group of spikelets (capitulum) and 2–4 stalked globose groups of spikelets; each capitulum 9–16 mm in diam. and consisting of 20–50 spikelets; involucral bracts 5–7, erect or spreading, leaf-like, the largest 10–20 cm long and 1–2 mm wide; peduncles 2–4 cm long, somewhat flattened, glabrous; rhachis of capitula with prominent round cushion-like outgrowths from where the spikelets begins. Spikelets 5–8 x 1–1.5 mm, almost cylindrical, narrowly lanceolate with acute apex, 3–4-flowered, falling off entire when mature. Fertile glumes 3.5–4 mm long, ovate, with obtuse or subacute apex, light reddish brown to somewhat golden with indistinct lateral nerves; midrib 3-nerved and in the lowermost glume excurrent into a very short mucro. Stamens 2–3. Style 4–5 mm long, with 3 branches. Nutlet c. 1.5 x 0.5 mm, elliptic, triangular, grey to dark reddish brown, minutely papillose, apiculate.

Information

Robust perennial with a c. 5 mm thick horizontal woody rhizome and crowded stems; roots sometimes with tomentum; stems 60–90 cm long and 1–2 mm thick, terete, but sometimes obtusely triangular above, with very weak longitudinal ridges, glabrous. Leaves from the lower 20 cm only; sheaths straw-coloured to, particularly in the lowermost coriaceous ones, bright reddish brown, glabrous; blades to 30 cm long and 2–4 mm wide, flat or rounded-canaliculate, stiff and coriaceous, minutely scabrid on margin and midrib. Inflorescence a 4–6 cm wide anthela of 1 sessile spherical group of spikelets (capitulum) and 2–4 stalked globose groups of spikelets; each capitulum 9–16 mm in diam. and consisting of 20–50 spikelets; involucral bracts 5–7, erect or spreading, leaf-like, the largest 10–20 cm long and 1–2 mm wide; peduncles 2–4 cm long, somewhat flattened, glabrous; rhachis of capitula with prominent round cushion-like outgrowths from where the spikelets begins. Spikelets 5–8 x 1–1.5 mm, almost cylindrical, narrowly lanceolate with acute apex, 3–4-flowered, falling off entire when mature. Fertile glumes 3.5–4 mm long, ovate, with obtuse or subacute apex, light reddish brown to somewhat golden with indistinct lateral nerves; midrib 3-nerved and in the lowermost glume excurrent into a very short mucro. Stamens 2–3. Style 4–5 mm long, with 3 branches. Nutlet c. 1.5 x 0.5 mm, elliptic, triangular, grey to dark reddish brown, minutely papillose, apiculate.