Citation: S.T. Blake, Pap. Dep. Biol. Univ. Qld 2, 3:9 (1944).

Synonymy: C. gryllus sensu Benth., Fl. Aust. 7:537 (1878), partly, non (L.)Trin.; Andropogon gryllus sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 55 (1922), non L.

Common name: Golden-beard grass.

Description:
Erect almost glabrous perennial, 30 cm to over 1 m high, with long narrow ribbed leaves; ligule short, ciliate.

Panicle 10-20 cm long, with capillary whorled simple branches, the triplets with a tuft of hairs at their base; fertile spikelets c. 6 mm long, the 2 glumes rounded on the back, obtuse, hairy at the summit, the first 5-nerved, muricate on the marginal nerves, usually with 3 short awns of which the middle one (c. 4 mm) is the longest, the second glume obscurely nerved, terminating in a slender awn c. 10 mm long; the first lemma c. 5 mm long, hyaline, fringed, the second (fertile) lemma c. 5 mm long, concave, ciliate, ending in an awn 3-4 cm long, the column c. 1 cm long, twisted; the 2 pedicellate spikelets c. 1 cm long, the first glume 5-nerved, membranous and ciliate on the outer nerves, the second of the same length, 3-nerved, the 3 lemmas hyaline, ciliate, gradually decreasing in size; the callus at the base of the triplet 1.5-2 mm long, the scar on the panicle-branch ovate in outline, obliquely cup-shaped and villous-ciliate on the circular margin.

Published illustration: Burbidge (1970) Australian grasses 3:pl. 7; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 77.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: LE.   All mainland States except Vic. Conservation status: native Flowering time: recorded May and July.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: A valuable pasture species but too restricted to be of importance in S.Aust.

Author: Not yet available