Common name: Fiveawn Speargrass
Pentapogon quadrifidus (Labill.) Baill. APNI* 
Description: Loosely tufted annual or short-lived perennial to 0.7 m high.
Leaves with sheath enclosing culm, striate, glabrous or pubescent with hairs c. 0.5 mm long; ligule membranous, 1–2 mm long, subulate; blade tightly rolled, pilose with hairs to 1 mm long, flag usually glabrous.
Inflorescence a compact panicle, 3–15 cm long, to 2.5 cm wide, exserted or enclosed in uppermost sheath. Spikelets of 1 bisexual floret; rachis scabrous. Glumes keeled, aristate, margins membranous, glabrous, keel scabrous, lower 5–9 mm long, upper 6–10 mm long. Lemma 4–7 mm long, glabrous, 2-lobed, each lobe with 1 slender curved awn 3–8 mm long; awn from the sinus stout, twisted, geniculate, curved, 1.5–2.5 cm long; callus bearded with hairs c. 1 mm long. Palea awnless, glabrous.
Flowering: spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in woodland and moist shady situations.
NSW subdivisions: SC, NT, ST, SWS
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. S.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
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
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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