Setaria parviflora (Poir.) Kerguélen

Laxly tufted often straggling annuals, 18–85 cm, yellow-green, often purplish near base. Leaf-sheath compressed, keeled, submembranous to firm, striate, glabrous. Ligule ciliate, hairs to 1 mm. Leaf-blade (3)–8–15–(20) cm × 2–5 mm, flat, soft, abaxially glabrous, adaxially minutely prickle-toothed on ribs, with a few long (to 8 mm) hairs near base; margins and midrib minutely prickle-toothed above, tip long-tapered, acuminate. Culm 10–30–(75) cm, ± erect, nodes compressed, often dark brown, internodes ridged, glabrous, minutely prickle-toothed to pubescent on ridges just below panicle. Panicle 2–5–(8.5) cm × 6–18 mm, cylindric, dense-flowered; rachis hispidulous, with many, short, close-set, hispidulous branches bearing clusters of 2–3, almost sessile spikelets, each spikelet subtended by 6–11 tawny or reddish brown to purplish, antrorsely scabrid bristles (2–8 mm). Spikelets 2.2–2.4 mm, light green, falling entire at maturity. Lower glume 0.7–1.2 mm, ovate, acute or apiculate, 3-nerved, upper 1–2 mm, ovate-orbicular, obtuse, 3–(5)-nerved. Lower floret Ø: lemma 5-nerved, acute; palea ≈ lemma, hyaline. Upper floret ☿: lemma = spikelet, very convex, crustaceous, finely rugulose, pale cream, sometimes apiculate; palea of same texture but ≤ lemma, keels rounded, glabrous; anthers (0.7)–0.9–1.2 mm; caryopsis c. 1.5 × 1.0 mm.

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