Compactly tufted perennials. Culms 30–90 cm high, unbranched or with the upper internodes branched; internodes smooth, glabrous. Leaves: ligule to 0.5 mm long; blade conduplicate, setaceous, to 16 cm long, to 1 mm wide. Inflorescences 11–15 cm long, 2–7 cm wide, loosely contracted or ±open; branches loosely appressed, to 22 cm long, bearing spikelets from base. Glumes normal, entire, obtuse, awnless or aristulate, glabrous; lower glume 7–11.5 mm long, 3–7-nerved; upper glume 8.5–17 mm long, 1–3-nerved. Lemma 7–11 mm long, subequal to lower glume, convolute, smooth or scabrous apically, without an articulation or pseudoarticulation; column distinct, 5–17 mm long, scaberulous; awns slightly but visibly unequal; median awn strongly recurved, 17–33 mm long; lateral awns 12–28 mm long. Caryopsis terete, 6–7 mm long, ±twice embryo length.
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