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Spikelets 3–7 × 2–2.5 mm, oblong to lanceolate-oblong, laterally compressed, 5–7(12)-flowered, the florets disarticulating from below upwards, the rhachilla persistent; glumes unequal, keeled, narrowly lanceolate in profile, densely scaberulous all over, acute at the apex, the inferior 1–1.5 mm long, reaching to c. 2/3 the way along the adjacent lemma, the superior 1.6–2(2.3) mm long, reaching to about the middle of the adjacent lemma; lemmas 2.3–2.8 mm long, keeled, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic in profile, firmly membranous with somewhat indistinct lateral nerves, diverging from the rhachilla at 45°, those in opposite rows not imbricate, the rhachilla visible between them, greyish-green, densely scaberulous all over, subacute to acute at the apex; palea deciduous with or soon after the lemma, scaberulous on the flanks, the keels slender, wingless, scabrid; anthers 3, 1.3–1.5 mm long.
Densely tufted, robust perennial, up to 2 m high; basal sheaths glabrous or obscurely hairy. Leaf blade 200-300(-600) x 5-10 mm; ligule a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence a moderately branched panicle, spreading or contracted; spikelets condensed on branches, most pedicels shorter than spikelets. Spikelets 5-7 x 1.5-2.5 mm, oblong to oblong-elliptic, laterally compressed, rachilla persistent, lemmas and/or paleas breaking up from base upwards; glumes shorter than spikelet, usually rough, opaque, 1-nerved. Florets 5-7; lemma entire, acute to subacute, strongly keeled, keel prominent for entire length of lemma, 3-nerved, lateral nerves prominent; palea long and narrow, keels a thin line, entire, scabrid to smooth, margins touching along entire length and overlapping at apex; anthers 3, 1.2-1.7 mm long. Flowering time Nov.-Apr. Caryopsis oblong-elliptic.
Robust perennial, densely tufted, up to 2 m high. Leaf blades 200-300(-600) mm long, 5-10 mm wide. Basal sheaths glabrous or obscurely hairy at base. Spikelets 5-7 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide. Inflorescence moderately branched, spreading or contracted, spikelets condensed on branches, most pedicels shorter than spikelets; spikelets oblong to oblong-elliptic, 5-7-flowered, rhachilla persistent, lemmas and/or paleas breaking up from base upwards; glumes usually rough, opaque; lemma acute to subacute, strongly keeled, keel prominent for entire length of lemma, lateral nerves prominent; palea long and narrow, keels a thin line, entire, scabrid to smooth, margins touching along entire length and overlapping at apex; anthers 3.1,2-1.7 mm long. Caryopsis oblong-elliptic.
Densely caespitose perennial without rhizomes or stolons; culms stout, up to 200 cm tall, erect, usually unbranched, glabrous at the nodes, eglandular; basal leaf sheaths glabrous, firmly chartaceous, glossy yellow, terete, eglandular, persistent or decaying into parallel fibres; ligule a line of hairs; leaf laminas 15–40(60) cm × 6–12(15) mm, linear, rigid and pungent, flat (involute on drying), glabrous or sparsely pilose, eglandular.
Panicle 15–70 cm long, narrowly oblong-elliptic, rather dense and usually contracted, the spikelets evenly distributed on pedicels 2–6 mm long, the primary branches 1–several at a node but scarcely whorled, terminating in a fertile spikelet, glabrous in the axils, eglandular.
Caryopsis 0.7–1 mm long, oblong-elliptic, dorsally grooved.
