Erect compactly tufted or tussock-forming perennials. Culms 60–92 cm high. Leaves: sheaths overlapping; ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.1–0.3 mm long; blade usually flat and 2.5–4 mm wide, to 25 cm long, curling with age, hirsute to pilose with long delicate hairs, thickened on margins. Panicles spiciform, 9–22 cm long, c. 1 cm wide, often interrupted in lower part, scabrous; branches sometimes branched. Spikelets pedicellate, ovate or oblong, inflated, 6.5–9 mm long, c. 3 mm wide, green or glaucous; rachilla flexuose, thick; florets 15–22, closely overlapping. Glumes deciduous, unequal, lanceolate or ovate, cartilaginous; lower glume 1.1–2.3 mm long; upper glume 1.5–2.5 mm long. Lemma ovate-elliptic to ±orbicular, 2 mm long, obtuse, dorsally curved or gibbous, cartilaginous or margins membranous, often partly scaberulous or granular. Palea membranous, pouched; body orbicular; keels very short, thick, forming basal margin; flaps auricle-like, hyaline. Stamens 3; anthers 0.4–0.5 mm long. Grain ellipsoid, not compressed, 0.6–0.7 mm long.
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