Culms 1.5–2 m, 0.6–0.8 cm in diam.; internodes green to purple-green, 10–13 cm, initially pilose, with a dark brown tomentose ring below each node; nodes prominent, basal 1 or 2 with aerial roots. Culm sheaths persistent, brown, with gray spots, longer than internodes, papery, densely hirsute, ciliate; ligule minute, ciliate; blade deciduous, 3–4 mm. Leaves 4–6 per ultimate branch; sheaths glabrous; oral setae purple-tinged, ca. 1.1 cm; ligule ca. 6 mm, entire; blade lanceolate, 15–18 × 1.1–1.3 cm. Inflorescence paniculate or racemose; terminal branches subtended by 4 or 5, persistent, gradually enlarged bracts. Pseudospikelets imperfectly known; lemma ovate-lanceolate, ca. 1 cm, papery, apex long mucronate; palea 6–7 mm. Style minute; stigmas 2. Caryopsis unknown. New shoots Aug–Sep.