Annual, tufted (branched, erect), up to 0.9 m high. Leaf blades up to 300 mm long, up to 3 mm wide. Spikelets 25-32 mm long (including awns). Inflorescence open, ovate, spikelets clustered at end of lax, flexible branches; lower glume two-thirds as long as to longer than upper glume, narrowed abruptly into a short, acute apex, mucro or awn absent; lemma usually scabrid except for lower quarter, articulation absent; column or beak absent, awns 3, laterals shorter; callus tip naked, swollen, rounded.