Culms erect, 30–90 cm tall. Leaf sheath glabrous, or pubescent at base; leaf blade ca. 20 × 0.2–0.6 cm, both surfaces glabrous or scabrous. Spike slightly nodding, 10–20 cm. Spikelets 1 per node, lax, ca. 20 mm, with 5–7 florets. Glumes lanceolate, proximal one ca. 5 mm, distal one 7–9 mm, 5–7-veined, apex acute; veins robust, scabrous. Lemma oblong-lanceolate, ca. 8 mm, abaxially rounded and scabrous or pubescent, margin ciliolate; callus broad, rounded; awn recurved, 1–3.5 cm, rigid. Palea subequaling lemma, ciliate along keels, apex subrounded or slightly emarginate. Caryopsis ca. 3 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Jul. 2n = 28*.