Culms tufted, erect, slightly geniculate, 70–150 cm, rigid, 5–7-noded. Leaf blade glaucous green, 7–25(–40) × 0.6–1 cm, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface laxly puberulent, margin scabrous. Spike erect or slightly curved, 15–18 cm. Spikelets 1 per node, ca. 11 mm, with 1–3 florets. Glumes greenish or slightly purplish, oblong, 5–6 mm, thick, 5–7-veined or proximal glume 3-veined, apex acuminate. Lemma yellowish green or slightly purplish, oblong-lanceolate, pubescent only at base and at margin; first lemma ca. 10 mm; awn slightly reflexed, robust, 10–20 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, apex emarginate or subrounded. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep. 2n = 28*.