Native warm-season perennial densely tufted C4 grass; stems are to 70 cm tall, erect to ascending and unbranched. Leaves are long (to 40 cm) and soft. Flowerheads are broad open panicles at maturity, with branches widely spreading to drooping. Spikelets occur on the ends of branches and are 1-flowered; glumes are purplish and more or less equal in length, with long tapering tips; lemma lacks a groove down one side, and is 9-16 mm long, yellowish or purple 3-awned; 2 lateral awns are 1-2 mm shorter than the central awn. Flowers from late spring to autumn. Grows mostly in grasslands and woodlands on cracking clays; mostly north of Dubbo. Native biodiversity. An indicator of heavy soils. Recorded as a major problem for the pastoral industry in Mitchell Grass country in southern Queensland. Flowerheads break off and can pile up against sheds and fences causing a fire hazard. Slightly better grazing value than other Wire Grasses when young; older plants are low grazing value as they are hard, wiry and unpalatable. Seeds can cause damage to stock eyes, hides and fleece.