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Lemma 2-2.25(3) mm. long, thinly membranous, ovate-oblong to broadly elliptic, 5-nerved with the nerves excurrent into mucros up to 0.75 mm. long, dorsally pilose to a varying degree of density, dorsally awned from near the base; awn geniculate, 4-7.5 mm. long.
Palea usually almost as long as (rarely shorter than — see notes) the lemma, faintly 2-nerved, apex 2-dentate; rhachilla usually produced beyond the floret (very rarely not produced), forming a basally hairy awn-like bristle, 1-3 mm. long.
Glumes 1-nerved (rarely the superior 3-nerved), subequal, lanceolate, firmly membranous, apex acute to acuminate, keel scabrous, flanks minutely granular-scaberulous or very rarely smooth.
Culms 50-120 cm. tall, usually erect, more rarely ascending from a shortly geniculate base, 2-4-noded, usually simple, smooth or scaberulous beneath the nodes.
Panicle 5-25 cm. long, ovate to elliptic in outline, usually effuse with flexuous branches, more rarely slightly contracted.
Leaf-sheaths fairly tight, smooth or scaberulous, the oldest persistent and often splitting into irregular fibres.
Leaf-laminae 3-25 x 0.25(0.3) cm., expanded or sometimes involute, linear to almost setaceous, glabrous.
Spikelets 3.5 — 4.5 mm. long, oblong, green or often purplish, gaping at length.
A densely caespitose perennial.
