Culms 2–3 m, to 1 cm in diam.; internodes dark green, 7–8 cm, initially white pilose, with a brown or dark purple, tomentose ring below each node, nearly solid; nodes prominent, 2-ridged. Culm sheaths persistent, longer than internodes, papery, hispid, margins ciliate; ligule minute, ciliate; blade subulate, ca. 1 mm, articulate. Leaves 3–5 per ultimate branch; sheaths glabrous; oral setae purple-tinged, ca. 1.3 cm; ligule ca. 1 mm, entire; blade lanceolate, 13–16 × ca. 1 cm. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Oct.