Plants 0.3–0.8 m tall, without rhizomes, with shoots conspicuously extravaginal. Culms geniculate; nodes 3–5, exserted. Leaves: ligule 0.2–1 mm long, broadly obtuse to truncate, sometimes erose, coriaceous, with abaxial surface sericeous; auricles ±thickened, tufted; blade expanded or inrolled, 2–3 mm wide, velutinous. Inflorescence belatedly exserted, 15 cm long, contracted, dense; spikelets slightly gaping. Glumes unequal, 9–12 mm long, acuminate to acute. Callus 1–2 mm long, straight, densely sericeous. Lemma narrowly fusiform, 5–6.5 mm long, slightly granular, with hairs white; coma 0.1–0.5 mm long; lobes absent or 0.1–0.2 mm long; awn 30–45 mm long, with a pubescent column 10–25 mm long, and scaberulous bristle. Palea subequal to lemma, broadly acute to obtuse. Lodicules 2, oblong to acute.
Home