Culms 10–15 m, 8–10 cm in diam., apically recurved; internodes 30–40 cm, basally slightly swollen, initially sparsely hispid; wall 2–2.5 cm thick; nodes flat. Branches several, central dominant. Culm sheaths deciduous, leathery, initially with dark brown, spiny hairs; auricles reflexed, linear, small; ligule 3–5 mm, serrulate; blade recurved, occasionally erect, ovate to lanceolate, base ca. 4/5 as wide as sheath apex. Leaf sheaths hirtellous; ligule truncate, 1–1.5 mm; auricles and oral setae absent; blade lanceolate, 15–20 × 3–5 cm. Pseudospikelets 1.5–2 cm; 4–8-flowered, plus a sterile terminal floret; rachilla not disarticulating, internodes ca. 2 mm. Glumes 1, ciliate; lemma 1–1.2 cm, ciliate; palea 0.8–1 cm; lodicules 3. Anthers ca. 6 mm. Ovary obovoid; styles ca. 4 mm; stigma 1. Caryopsis unknown. New shoots Jul–Oct.