Coarse-textured, tall perennial grass. Leaf folded in bud. Leaf blade long, flat, v-shaped in cross section, sharply keeled below, margins almost smooth to rough. Ligule membranous truncated, long, lacerated and hairless. Inflorescence a 1- sided panicle, initially contracted, open at pollen release, then contracting again as seeds ripen. Spikelets with 3-5 flowers in dense 1-sided heads at the ends of the cluster branches; Nov.-Jan. Lemmas with a terminal point.

Asia, North Africa, Europe

Grown as a pasture grass and widely naturalised along roadsides and disturbed places. Limited sports turf potential.

Often associated with the symptoms of hay fever.

Source: Spencer, R.; Aldous, D.; Stajsic, V.; McGeary, D (2005). Poaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.