Fimbristylis polytrichoides (Retz.) R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Small, densely tufted perennial, glabrous (except for the ligule).
Culms compressed, 5–30 cm high, to 1 mm diam.
Leaves half as long to equalling culms, to 1 mm wide; ligule a row of short hairs. Inflorescence a single terminal or pseudolateral spikelet, rarely with 1 or 2 extra spikelets on branches to 2 cm long; involucral bract sometimes glume-like, but often with an erect blade as long as or slightly exceeding inflorescence. Spikelets erect, ovoid or oblong, terete, acute, 5–15 mm long, 2–3 mm diam. Glumes spiral, membranous, more than twice as long as broad, obtuse, muticous or mucronulate, slightly keeled, otherwise nerveless, 2.5–3 mm long, pale red-brown. Stamens 1 or 2; anthers 0.7–1 mm long. Style 2-fid, sparsely ciliate above.
Nut biconvex, with acute angles, obovoid, shortly stipitate, smooth or verruculose, minutely reticulate by the minute, transversely 0.9–1.1 mm long, 0.5–0.6(-0.7) mm diam., elliptic or oblong epidermal cells in about 30 vertical rows on each face, greyish or blackish brown.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in coastal saltmarsh; north from Port Stephens.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. N.T.
Text by K. L. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
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