Derivation
Holcus L., Sp. Pl. 1047 (1753); an old Latin name for a type of grain.

setiger- from the Latin seta (bristle) and gero (carry). Glumes shortly aristate.

Published in
Linnaea 7: 278 (1832).

Habit
Annual, culms solitary or tufted. Basal leaf sheaths sparsely pubescent. Young shoots intravaginal. Culms 12–65 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, lacerate, obtuse or acute. Leaf-blades 6–14 cm long, 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous or pubescent. Leaf-blade apex hooded.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle contracted, lanceolate or elliptic, 2.3–10 cm long.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels pubescent. Fertile spikelets at least 3-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, with diminished florets at the apex, elliptic, laterally compressed, 3.6–4.3 mm long, falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

Glumes
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, 3–4 mm long, equalling upper glume, chartaceous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate, awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–2.2 mm long. Upper glume oblong, 3–4.3 mm long, 200% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, chartaceous, 1-keeled, 3-nerved. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex entire or dentate, 2-fid, acute or acuminate, awned. Upper glume awn 1.8–6 mm long.

Florets
Fertile lemma ovate, 1.6–1.8 mm long, cartilaginous, glossy, keeled above, 3–5-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves obscure. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 100% of length of lemma. Apical sterile florets 1. Apical sterile florets barren, linear, 1 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas 1-awned. Apical sterile lemma awns dorsal, geniculate or hooked, 2 mm long. Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

Continental Distribution:
Africa, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia: Drummond, Dale, Menzies.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Aveneae

Notes
Introduced. Naturalised in bushland; recorded from sandy loam. Flowers Oct.–Nov.