Perennial; 0.15-0.45(-0.70) m high; densely tufted at base. Culms erect. Leaf blades up to 20-70(-170) x 4 mm; lanceolate; leaves basal; rigid; erect. Flowers: inflorescence subdigitate; elongate; racemes up to 55 mm long; straight; with 1-4 spikelets crowded near apex; spikelets up to 30 mm long; lemma awns 4-8 mm long.
Perennial, 450-700 mm tall, densely tufted. Leaves lanceolate; ligule a minutely fringed membrane. Inflorescence of 1-4 semi-sessile spikelets. Spikelets up to 30 mm long, many-flowered; glumes unequal, shorter than spikelet; lemma awn 4-8 mm long; anthers 2-3 mm long.
Densely tufted perennial 150-450(-700) mm high; leaves basal. Leaf blade 20-70(-170) x 8 mm, lanceolate, erect, rigid, rough. Inflorescence to 55 mm long, straight; 1-4 spikelets crowded near apex. Spikelet to 30 x 2-8 mm; lemma awn 4-8 mm long; anther 2.5-3.0 mm long.