Perennial, tussocky. Culms erect, (40–)60–100 cm tall, 2.5–4 mm in diam., 3–4-noded, nodes dark, puberulous below. Leaf sheaths smooth; leaf blades linear, flat or convolute at margins, 8–15(–30) cm, 2–5(–10) mm wide, abaxial surface granular-scaberulous, apex finely acuminate; ligule truncate, 0.5–1.2 mm. Panicle densely contracted, almost spikelike, narrowly oblong in outline, interrrupted below, 10–25 cm; branches up to 5 per node, erect, densely clothed with spikelets. Spikelets 5–6 mm, gray-green or purplish, tinged bronze at maturity; glumes subequal, lanceolate, 3-veined, asperulous, midrib scabrid, apex acute or obtuse and denticulate; callus acute, ca. 0.5 mm; lemma 4–4.2 mm, firm, dark brown at maturity, pilose, hairs slightly longer upward, increasing to 1.1–1.3 mm around awn base, apex shortly 2-toothed; awn tardily deciduous, stiff, 1–1.3 cm, 1-geniculate, column minutely pubescent, bristle scabrid. Anthers ca. 2 mm, bearded at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.
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