Bromus lithobius Trin.

Soft-leaved, green to bluish green perennial tufts, 3–100–(165) cm, with spreading culms. Leaf-sheath rounded, with dense, fine, soft, horizontally projecting hairs. Ligule 1–1.5 mm, rounded or truncate, shortly denticulate, sometimes with scattered fine hairs at margins or abaxially; in uppermost culm leaves tapered and more lacerate. Leaf-blade 10–20 cm × 3–7 mm, villous; margins finely scabrid, tip subobtuse. Culm usually geniculate at base, usually ascending, to ± erect, internodes glabrous. Panicle 10–20–(35) cm, nodding; branches slender, finely scabrid, lower branches becoming strongly reflexed and drooping, upper branches ascending. Spikelets 2–3.5 cm, 5–7-flowered, linear-lanceolate, usually purple-suffused, sometimes light green. Glumes unequal, acute, with dense, short, soft, straight hairs throughout; lower 6–7.5 mm, 3–5-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, upper 8–9.5 mm, 5–7-nerved, ovate-lanceolate. Lemma 9–12 mm, 7–9-nerved, keeled, densely, shortly hairy throughout, evenly light green to usually purple-suffused; awn 4–6 mm. Palea = or slightly > lemma. Callus with minute hairs. Rachilla scabrid to minutely pubescent. Anthers 0.5–0.8 mm in cleistogamous flowers, c. 3 mm in chasmogamous flowers. Caryopsis 8.1–8.8 × 1.5–1.8 mm.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]