Compactly tufted annuals or perennials. Culms 12–44 cm high, ±wavy, strongly branched, terete; internodes scabrous, glabrous, sometimes glaucous. Leaves: ligule 0.3–0.5 mm long; blade involute or conduplicate, setaceous, flexuose at maturity, to 10 cm long, to 1 mm wide. Inflorescences 9–26 cm long, 4–9 cm wide, loosely contracted; branches loosely appressed, to 2.5 cm long, naked at base. Glumes normal, 1-nerved, glabrous, scabrous or scaberulous; lower glume persistent, 7.4–14.2 mm long, acute, entire; upper glume 12–30 mm long, notched, awnless or aristulate. Lemma 4.9–7 mm long, shorter than both glumes, convolute, muriculate apically, with a distinct articulation; column distinct, 7–26 mm long, to 0.3 mm thick, scaberulous; awns subequal, 16–95 mm long, straight; lateral awns terete. Caryopsis terete, 3–4.5 mm long, less than twice embryo length.
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