Culms laxly tufted, erect, or decumbent or geniculate at base, 20–45 cm tall. Leaf sheath puberulent or margin ciliate at base; leaf blade involute, 9–11(–20) × 0.1–0.2 cm, both surfaces smooth and glabrous or adaxial surface scabrous. Spike curved and nodding, 6–10 cm, with 5–11 spikelets. Spikelets 1 per node, yellowish brown or purplish green, 12–13(–22) mm excluding awns, with 3–6(or 7) florets. Glumes oblong-lanceolate, 3–5-veined, laxly puberulent, scabrous along veins, apex acute or acuminate; proximal glume 5–6 mm; distal glume 7–8 mm; awn usually 2–5 mm. Lemma oblong-lanceolate, puberulent proximally, hispidulous distally; first lemma ca. 10 mm; awn reflexed, 2.5–3 cm, scabrous. Palea equaling lemma, puberulent between keels distally. Fl. and fr. late summer. 2n = 28*.