Native, warm-season, annual, sprawling to semi-erect grass that grows 10-20 cm tall. Leaf margins have short glandular hairs. Flowerheads are digitate, with 3-10 short (less than 1.5 cm long) radiating branches that extend beyond the spikelets. Spikelets are densely crowded, hang below the branches and have 2-4 florets; often only 1 awn is present. Germinates in warm weather after rain and flowers in summer. Widespread, but uncommon. It is a coloniser of disturbed or open areas as it is a short plant that requires warm bare soil for germination and minimal competition. Most common on sand and disturbed areas such as roadsides, stockyards and heavily trampled areas. Native biodiversity. Valuable pasture grass in drier areas of Australia, but too uncommon in coastal pastures to be of any importance. Very palatable even after it has dried off, but it