Citation: Rottb., Descr. Pl. rar. Progr. 22 (1772).

Synonymy: C. flabelliformis Rottb., Descr. & Icon. 42 (1773).

Common name: None

Description:
Perennial, with a stout horizontal rhizome; stems stout, densely tufted, obtusely trigonous to subterete, sulcate, scaberulous at the top, 50-175 cm high; leaves only developed on the first sterile shoots, reduced on the culms to long wide brownish sheaths.

Inflorescence large, decompound, 10-30 cm across; involucral bracts numerous (up to 20), distinctly spaced, flat, nearly equal in length, much longer than the inflorescence, 25-50 cm long; primary rays numerous, slender, 5-10 cm long; spikelets digitately arranged, stellately spreading, in clusters of usually 3-7, ovate to oblong-linear, compressed, 10-40-flowered, 5-10 mm long, c. 2 mm wide; rhachilla wingless; glumes obliquely patent, acutely keeled, mucronulate, faintly 3-5-nerved, with a green keel and shining ferrugineous sides, c. 2 mm long; stamens 3.

Nut trigonous, broadly ellipsoid or slightly obovoid, 0.6-0.75 mm long.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: GT, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI.   Qld; N.S.W.   Native to Africa and Arabia. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: March — June, Sept.

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

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available