Culms erect, 45–60 cm tall, 1–2 mm in diam., 2-or 3-noded, glabrous. Leaf sheath glabrous; ligule very short, apex truncate; leaf blade usually involute, 5–9 cm, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface and margin pilose. Spike lax, 6–11 cm; rachis slender, glabrous; internodes 7–18 mm, or to 30 mm at base of spike. Spikelets 1 per node, usually purplish, 12–20 mm, with 4–6 florets; rachilla pubescent. Glumes lanceolate, 3–5-veined, glabrous, apex pungent; proximal glume 4–5 mm; distal glume 6–7 mm. Lemma oblong-lanceolate, abaxially spinescent; first lemma 8–9 mm; awn 2–4 mm. Palea slightly shorter than or equaling lemma, ciliolate along keels distally, apex truncate. Caryopsis yellowish, apex pubescent. Fl. and fr. Aug–Sep.
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