Thamnochortus cinereus male spikelets

The male inflorescences of Thamnochortus cinereus seen on this plant are comprised of clusters of cylindrical spikelets that are pendulous, typical (of the male flowers) among Thamnochortus species. The perianth made up of six segments is compressed, the anthers exserted.

On female plants the spikelets, also having six perianth segments, are erect (as is usual for many Thamnochortus plants). The Thamnochortus genus produces only one style per flower; it also has a one-chambered ovary. The cartilaginous bracts of the female spikelets are longer than the florets.

The fruit of T. cinereus is a soft-walled nutlet. Some Thamnochortus species shed the ripe nutlet with the perianth still attached, possibly contributing to wind dispersal (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Dorrat-Haaksma and Linder, 2012).