Aristida helicophylla S.T.Blake APNI* 
Description: Erect perennial to 1.5 m high, often glaucous or pruinose; culms simple or sparsely branched.
Leaves with sheath smooth; ligule 0.5–1 mm long; blade flat or sometimes conduplicate, soon curly or flexuous, 1.5–3 mm wide, long-scabrous on upper surface.
Panicle spike-like, interrupted in lower part or continuous, to 32 cm long. Glumes 6–8 mm long, lower acute to acuminate, upper aristulate from the sinus. Lemma narrow-elliptic, 4–5.5 mm long, brown or purple with darker markings; awns flattened, capillary, recurved or flexuous or sometimes straight, unequal, usually to 25 cm long.
Flowering: in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on sandy soils; north from Enngonia.
NSW subdivisions: NWP
Other Australian states: Qld N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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