Bandicoot grass

Description

Shortly rhizomatous perennial,woolly at base,culms erect,to 2 m high or more,often glaucous;leaves (except basal sheath) glabrous,scabrous or hairy;blade usually closely folded,to 60 cm long and 3 mm wide;ligule laciniate,2–7 mm long,glabrous,but bordered by long hairs.Inflorescence 15–50 cm long,the clusters loosely pedunculate,with 5–10 racemes,each raceme c.20–26 mm long (excluding awn),about as long as its spathe,with a peduncle 1–2 cm long between the spathe and the lower spikelets;involucral spikelets male,15–20 mm long;fertile spikelet c.10 mm long,its glumes hardened,silky,brown-pubescent all over,callus-like pedicel elongate,with silky brown hairs;sterile lemma about two-thirds as long as glumes;fertile floret inconspicuous,continuous with base of stout,rusty,once- or twice-bent awn,5–10 cm long;palea usually lacking;pedicellate spikelets usually male,resembling those of involucre.Flowers mostly Nov.–Feb.All mainland states.Confined to inland districts.Formerly regarded as naturalised in Victoria,but now perceived as a rare native whose habitat has been severely reduced.Known from scattered sites in north-central Victoria (e.g.Tennyson,Boort,Wycheproof areas) on heavy soils supporting grassy woodland.