Austroderia splendens

Description

Generally a robust, stout, rhizomatous tussock forming grass up to 6 m tall when in flower. Leaf sheath clothed in long hairs, pale green, copiously covered in white wax. Ligule 3 (or more) mm long, contra-ligule (a long in hairs at the leaf blade/culm junction) present. Leaf blade -3(-4.8) x 0.3-0.5 m, yellow-green, green to dark-green, upper side glabrous, underside basally with dense weft of hairs, this becoming sparse toward midribs, trending toward mintuely hairy throughout. Culm up to 6 m, inflorescence portion up to m tall, erect to nodding, plumose. Spikelets numerous, 40 mm with -3 florets per spikelet. Glumes equal, 40 mm with awn-like apex, > florets. Lemma mm, 3-nerved, scabrid. Palea 9 mm, keels ciliate. Callus hairs 4 mm. Rachilla mm. Flowers either perfect or female. Anthers of perfect flowers 6 mm, in females 4 mm. Ovary of perfect flowers 0.7 mm, stigma -styles mm; female flowers with ovary mm, stigma-style 4 mm. Seed 4-5 mm.