NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE

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Synonyms: Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers. APNI*

Description: Tufted perennial, to 0.6 m high.

Leaves with ligule membranous, to 1.5 mm long, truncate, erose, often with hairs or hair-like projections to 0.5 mm long; blade flat or inrolled, to 0.3 cm wide, glabrous or with hairs 0.5–1.5 mm long.

Inflorescence spicate or a compact panicle, 6–11 cm long, to 1.5 mm wide, erect, usually dense, lower half often interrupted. Spikelets 5–7 mm long, pedicels to 3 mm long; florets 2–4; rachilla often extended as a sterile projection to 2 mm long. Lower glume 3–5 mm long, acute, 1-nerved, nerve sometimes scabrous; upper 4–6 mm long, broader than lower glume, acute, 3–5-nerved, central nerve sometimes scabrous. Lemmas 4–6 mm long, acute or obtuse, sometimes with awn, obscurely 5-nerved; awn subterminal, to 1.5 mm long. Palea subequal to lemma.

Distribution and occurrence: in montane woodland or grassland; uncommon. Native of Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *ST
Other Australian states: *Vic. *Tas.

AVH map***

This is a species complex with a great deal of variation. The relationships between different populations in Europe are not understood and many previously given specific status, have been assigned in 'Flora Europea' (Tutin et al 1980) to the K. macrantha group. Introduced forms of K. macrantha (used in this sense) grow in NSW. K. australiensis has a more open panicle than most specimens of K. macrantha but the amount of material of the former is so limited and the range of variation of the latter so large that the distinction of K. australiensis cannot be made with certainty. It seems best to include K. australiensis in the K. macrantha group for the present.