Japanese name: カモジグサ（髢草） Scientific name:Elymus tsukushiensis var. transiens
[Overview]
A perennial 0.5–1 m tall, found along roadsides and on embankments.
The leaves are linear, 15–25 cm long and 0.5–1 cm wide.
A spike 15–25 cm long emerges at the stem tip, and its end droops in an arch.
The spikelets are borne one at each node of the spike, 1.5–2.5 cm long, pale green and often tinged with purple.
Each spikelet consists of 5–8 florets; the lemma is hairless and has an awn 2–3 cm long at the top.
The lemma is almost as long as the palea.
[Notes]
The Japanese name is said to derive from the practice of playing by making kamoji (hairpieces) for hina dolls (dolls for the Girls' Day festival) out of the leaves.
