Citation: R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 185 (1810).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Purple heads, purple-plume grass, needle grass.

Description:
Erect glabrous perennial, 10-50 cm high; leaves filiform-involute, channelled or flattish; ligule a ring of hairs.

Panicle soft, dense, cylindrical, often purplish, 4-20 cm long, 1-2 cm broad; spikelets 6-9-flowered, the florets exceeding the glumes which are glabrous, mucronate, 4-6 mm long; lemma narrow, c. 6 mm long (including the very short acute callus), ciliate on the 2 lateral nerves, the awns c. 6 mm long, the 2 lateral ones rising from a lower level than the central one.

Published illustration: Lazarides (1970) The grasses of Central Australia, pl. 70c; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 152.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL.   All mainland States. Conservation status: native Flowering time: throughout the year.

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

Biology: No text

Uses: Not considered to be an important grazing species.

Author: Not yet available