Tufted erect, robust perennial to 1400 mm high; shortly rhizomatous; culm 5-6 mm in diameter, unbranched, lower internodes woolly hairy or glabrous. Leaf blade to 800 x 2-3(-6) mm. Spikelet 25-30 mm long (including awns); lower glume 1/2 the length of upper glume, mucro or awn absent; lemma articulation absent, narrowed into a beak or very short twisted column; awns three, subequal; callus apex small, naked, swollen and rounded; anther 4.3-6.5 mm long.
Robust perennial, short rhizomatous and tufted (erect), up to 1.4 m high. Leaf blades up to 800 mm long; 2-3(-6) mm wide. Culms 5-6 mm in diameter, unbranched, lower internodes woolly-hairy or glabrous. Spikelets 25-30 mm long (including awns); lower glume half the length of the upper, mucro or awn absent; lemma articulation absent; lemma narrowed into a beak or very short twisted column; awns 3, subequal; callus tip small, naked, swollen and rounded.