Loosely tufted annuals. Culms 29–84 cm high, unbranched or branched (at the lower nodes), terete; internodes smooth, glabrous, sometimes glaucous. Leaves: ligule to 0.5 mm long; blade conduplicate, setaceous, sometimes flexuose at maturity, to 27 cm long, to 1.2 mm wide. Inflorescences 14.4–35 cm long, 7–15 cm wide, loosely contracted or ±open; branches loosely appressed, to 3.5 cm long, naked at base. Glumes normal, notched, glabrous, smooth; lower glume 13.5–23.1 mm long, obtuse, 3-nerved; upper glume 25–42.6 mm long, aristulate or awned, 1-nerved. Lemma 8–16 mm long, shorter than both glumes, convolute, punctate, with a distinct articulation; column distinct, 53–85 mm long, 1 mm thick, scaberulous; awns subequal, 81–150 mm long, straight; lateral awns terete (in the upper part) or flattened (in the lower part). Caryopsis terete, 6.6–8.5 mm long, less than twice embryo length.
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