Citation: Lazarides, Aust. J. Bot. suppl, ser. 5:31 (1972).

Synonymy: -Chloris acicularis Lindley in T.L. Mitchell, J. Trop. Austral. 33 (1848); C. moorei F. Muell., Linnaea 25:444 (1853).

Common name: Umbrella grass, spider grass, curly windmill grass.

Description:
Glabrous grass, 25-60 cm high; leaf blades narrow, flat, minutely scabrous.

Spikes 3-12 (but usually 9-12) in number, 8-17 cm long, finally spreading horizontally; spikelets c. 3 mm apart; first glumes 3-5 mm long, the second 7-9 mm long; lemma (fertile) very narrow, 3-nerved, 5-7 mm long (without the callus), 2-fid, almost glabrous; awn 10-15 mm long; stalked empty lemma shorter, also 2-fid, but with an awn often nearly as long as that of the fertile lemma.

Published illustration: Lazarides (1970) The grasses of Central Australia, pl. 24a; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 97.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: LE, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, SL.   All mainland States. Conservation status: native Flowering time: throughout the year, especially in early summer.

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

Biology: Grazed mainly when young.

Author: Not yet available