Culms tufted, erect but geniculate at base, 60–90 cm tall, 3-noded. Leaf sheath glabrous; ligule ca. 0.2 mm, apex truncate; leaf blade flat or slightly involute, 7–17 × 0.2–0.4 cm, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface scabrous. Spike curved or nodding, 10–15 cm. Spikelets 1 per node, purplish green, 15–20 mm, with 4 or 5 florets. Glumes oblong-lanceolate, 3–5-veined, apex acute or acuminate; proximal glume 5–7 mm; distal glume 6–8 mm. Lemma lanceolate, hirsutulous throughout; first lemma 10–13 mm; awn reflexed, robust, 25–40 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, distally scabrous, smooth along keels, apex truncate or emarginate. Fl. and fr. late summer.