Compactly tufted perennials. Culms 60–120 cm high, branched, compressed; internodes scabrous (sometimes densely so), glabrous. Leaves: ligule 0.3–0.5 mm long; blade involute or flat, sometimes setaceous, sometimes flexuose at maturity, to 27 cm long, to 1.2 mm wide. Inflorescences 14–34 cm long, 5–8 cm wide, loosely contracted or ±open; branches loosely appressed, to 5 cm long, naked at base. Glumes normal, entire, aristulate, glabrous, smooth; lower glume 8–13.2 mm long, acute, 3-nerved; upper glume 16–21 mm long, 1-nerved. Lemma 8–12 mm long, subequal to lower glume, convolute, scabrous apically, with a distinct articulation; column distinct, 11–34 mm long, scaberulous; awns slightly but visibly unequal; median awn strongly recurved, 35–99 mm long; lateral awns 26–86 mm long, terete. Caryopsis terete, 5.6–7.2 mm long, less than twice embryo length.
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