Citation: Tutin in Clapham, Tutin & Warburg, Fl. Brit. Isles 1434 (1952).

Synonymy: -Poa rigida L., Cent. 1Pl. 5 (1755); Scleropoa rigida (L.) Griseb., Spic. Fl. Rumel. 2:431 (1846); Festuca rigida (L.) Rasp., Ann. Sci. Nat. 5:445 (1825); Sclerochloa rigida (L.)Link, Enum. Pl. Hort. Berol. 1:90 (1821); Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E. Hubb. in Dony, Fl. Bedfordsh. 437 (1953).

Common name: Fern grass, rigid fescue, hard poa.

Description:
A small glabrous rigid annual, 5-20 cm high, the stems usually geniculate at the base; leaf blades flat or involute, scabrous; ligule oblong, torn.

Panicle 4-8 cm long, 1-sided, contracted, the short branches clothed with spikelets almost to the base; spikelets 5-6 mm long, on a short thick pedicel, with 6-10 persistent florets; lemmas c. 2.5 mm long, obtuse, faintly 3-nerved.

Published illustration: Burbidge (1970) Australian grasses 3:pl. 18.

Distribution:    All States except the N.T. and Qld.   Native to Europe and Asia. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Oct. — Jan.

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

Biology: No text

Uses: Of little value to stock.

Author: Not yet available