Compactly tufted perennials. Culms 55–65 cm high, branched (fastigiate); internodes smooth, glabrous. Leaves: ligule 0.4–0.6 mm long; blade flat or conduplicate, flexuose at maturity, to 25 cm long, to 2 mm wide. Inflorescences to 22 cm long, 2–9 cm wide, loosely contracted; branches loosely appressed, to 4 cm long, naked at base. Glumes normal, notched or entire, awned, glabrous; lower glume 8–15 mm long, acute, 3–7-nerved; upper glume 11–20 mm long, 1-nerved. Lemma 8–13 mm long, subequal to the lower glume or shorter than both glumes, convolute, smooth or scabrous apically, without an articulation or pseudoarticulation; column distinct, 5–7 mm long, scaberulous; awns slightly but visibly unequal, gently curved; median awn 20–30 mm long; lateral awns 18–26 mm long, terete. Caryopsis terete, 7–8 mm long, more than twice embryo length.
Home