Germainia capitata  

Perennial, tufted. Culms 30--60(--90) cm tall, erect; nodes glabrous to pubescent. Leaf-sheaths 5--13 cm long, basal sheaths tomentose, densely covered with white to pale yellow hairs to glabrous, upper sheath shorter than internodes. Ligule a ciliate membrane, up to 1.5 mm long, with a dense row of hairs behind the ligule. Leaf-blades linear, 7--40 by 0.5--1 cm, tomentose to sparsely pubescent or glabrous on both surfaces, margins thick, tomentose to scabrous. Racemes 2, 2--4 cm long, capitate to elongate, usually with one main axis rarely with two, very closely appressed, composed of 4--14 sessile and pedicelled spikelets, basal homogamous 1--4 in number; peduncles 20--30 cm long, hirsute below the inflorescences. Sessile spikelets yellowish-green to green, oblong, 15--23 by 2.5--4.5 mm; lower glumes coriaceous, oblong, 13--22 by 3--4.5 mm, pubescent to glabrous, obliquely bifid to muticous, upper margin ciliate, 7--9-nerved, sometimes outer two nerves anastomosing; upper glumes linear-lanceolate, 16--23 by 3--4 mm, upper part pubescent, acute, upper margin ciliate, 3-nerved; lower lemmas linear-lanceolate, 15--20 mm long, acute and ciliate, 1(--3)-nerved; lower paleas ovate-lanceolate, 13--19 mm long, pubescent on nerves, bifid, upper margin ciliate; upper lemmas linear-lanceolate, 15--20 mm long, upper part pubescent, acute, upper margin ciliate; upper paleas lanceolate, 15--20 mm long, pubescent on nerves, acute, upper margin ciliate; stamens 2, anthers reddish-purple, 9--12 mm long. Pedicelled spikelets lanceolate, 8--11 by 1.2--2.5 mm, caducous; pedicels 5--7 mm long, hirsute; spikelet callus linear, 3--3.5 mm long, attached obliquely, hairy, hairs 0.5--2 mm long; lower glumes lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 8--11 by 1.5--2.5 mm, pubescent, obtuse to muticous, upper margin ciliate, 3-nerved; upper glumes ovate-lanceolate, 7--9 by 1--1.8 mm, pubescent, obtuse to truncate, upper margin ciliate, 3(--5)-nerved; lower florets neuter or suppressed, lower lemmas linear, 6--7 mm long, truncate, upper margin ciliate, nerves obscure; lower paleas absent; upper lemmas linear, 3--4 mm long, awns 6--9(--11.5) cm long, columns 4--6 cm long; upper paleas oblong, 5--7 mm long, truncate and dentate, upper margin ciliate; styles 2, stigmas reddish-purple, c. 1.5 mm long. Caryopsis oblong, 3--4 mm long.