Perennial, tufted, shortly rhizomatous. Culms erect from a geniculate base, 30–60 cm tall, ca. 1 mm in diam., 3-noded. Leaf sheaths smooth; leaf blades narrowly linear, flat or weakly rolled, grayish green, 5–8 cm × 0.5–2 mm, scabrid; ligule 1.5–3 mm, apex obtuse. Panicle lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 7–12 cm; branches 2–5 per node, laxly ascending, slender, moderately scabrid. Spikelets 2–2.5 mm, purple; glumes oblong-lanceolate, subequal, lower slightly longer, keel scabrid or almost smooth on upper glume, apex acuminate; callus hairs ca. 0.2 mm; lemma 2/3 spikelet length, awned from slightly below middle to lower 1/3, or awnless, apex obtuse; awn geniculate, 3–3.5 mm; palea very small. Anthers 1–1.5 mm. Fl. and fr. summer and autumn.