Citation: C. Gmelin, Fl. Bad. 1:9 (1806).

Synonymy: Festuca myuros L., Sp. Pl. 74 (1753).

Common name: Rats-tail fescue, silver grass.

Description:
Slender annual, to 50 cm high, sometimes dwarfed in dry country; leaf blades setaceous, the sheaths covering the stem to the base of the panicle.

Panicle spike-like, narrow, unilateral and often arched, sometimes interrupted towards the base, 5-30 cm long; spikelets 4-6-flowered, 7-10 mm long; first glume 0.5-2 mm long, the second 4-5 mm long; glumes setaceous or the second subulate; lemmas glabrous, 6-7 mm long; awn 10-15 mm long.

Published illustration: Burbidge (1970) Australian grasses 3:pl. 41.

Distribution:    All States except the N.T.   Native to the Mediterranean and Central Europe extending to Great Britain. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Aug. — Dec., occasionally at other times.

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

Biology: A very common weed from the settled areas of the State.

Author: Not yet available