Common name: Roughtail
Rostraria pumila (Desf.) Tzvelev APNI* 
Description: Tufted annual to c. 30 cm tall.
Leaves with lower sheaths usually with hairs c. 0.25 mm long; ligule membranous, to 2 mm long, obtuse, toothed to erose; blade flat, to 3.5 mm wide, glabrous or with hairs c. 0.25 mm long.
Inflorescence contracted, 1.5–9 cm long, to 1.5 cm wide. Spikelets c. 4 mm long, (excluding awns), to 3 mm wide, strongly laterally compressed; florets 2–4; rachilla with rigid hairs to 1 mm long, usually extended as a sterile projection to 0.5 mm long. Glumes 2.5–3.5 mm long; lower with hairs c. 0.25 mm long; upper ciliate along the keel (sometimes hairy all over). Lemmas 2–3.5 mm long (excluding awn), acute or 2-fid, upper keel usually scabrous, with a subterminal awn to 4 mm long, lowest lemma usually shorter; palea shorter than lemma.
Flowering: Spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in disturbed areas. Native of Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *SWP, *NFWP, *SFWP
Other Australian states: *Vic. *S.A. *W.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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