Culms 2–3 m, 1–2 cm in diam.; internodes initially green, 16–18 cm, shortly hispid, finally glabrous. Culm sheaths straw-colored when dry, deciduously densely hispid, margins ciliate; auricles oblong or falcate; oral setae radiate; ligule triangular, ca. 2 mm, margin shortly ciliate; blade erect, linear-lanceolate, scabrous. Leaves 4–8 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles small; oral setae radiate; ligule arched; blade 10–16 × 1.5–2.3 cm, abaxially sparsely hairs, especially proximally. Spikelets 3–6, forming simple raceme, 6–17 cm; florets 13–33; pedicels 1.5–3 cm, glabrous or pubescent. Glumes 2; lemma light green, 1.3–1.5 cm, abaxially densely coarsely pubescent, margins ciliate; palea narrow, keels ciliate; lodicules oblong-lanceolate, abaxially pubescent, margin long ciliate. Stigma purple.