Culms erect, usually glaucous, 60–90 cm tall, 4-or 5-noded. Leaf blade flat or involute, 10–20 × 0.3–0.7 cm, abaxial surface smooth, glabrous, adaxial surface scabrous or densely pubescent. Spike erect, ± curved, or nodding, 10–15 (–17) cm; rachis ± puberulent. Spikelets 1 per node, ± pedicellate, green or purplish green, 12–20 mm excluding awns, with 3–6 florets. Glumes oblong-lanceolate, subequal, 6–8 mm excluding awn, 3–5-veined, scabrous along veins, margin membranous, apex acuminate or awned. Lemma with teeth just below apex; awn erect or slightly reflexed, slender, (10–)15–30 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, scabrous along keels distally. Fl. and fr. Jun–Jul. 2n = 28*.