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Spikelets 2.5–3.5 × c. 0.8 mm, narrowly oblong, laterally compressed, 3–4-flowered, the lemmas disarticulating from below upwards but the rhachilla becoming fragile above; glumes unequal, keeled, narrowly lanceolate in profile, acute at the apex, the inferior 1–1.3 mm long, reaching to between 1/2 and 2/3 (rarely to 3/4) the way along the adjacent lemma, the superior 1.3–2 mm long, reaching to between 1/3 and 2/3 the way; lemmas 1.7–2 mm long, keeled, lanceolate in profile, membranous with indistinct lateral nerves, appressed to the rhachilla, those in opposite rows not imbricate, the rhachilla visible between them, dark green to leaden-grey, glabrous, subacute at the apex; palea persistent, glabrous on the flanks, the keels slender, wingless, smooth and glabrous; anthers 3, 0.7–1 mm long.
Perennial; up to 0.9 m high; densely tufted; erect. Leaf blades up to 200 x 2 mm; basal sheaths glabrous at base; leaves forming a dense basal tuft; usually tightly rolled and curling. Flowers: panicle open; delicate; lowest branches whorled; spikelets up to 4 x 0.5-1.0 mm; with 2 or 3(-5) florets; rachilla subpersistent; upper part fragile; lemmas and/or paleae breaking up from base upwards; lower glume up to 3/4 length of lemma directly above and upper glume a third to four-fifths as long as lemma above in intact spikelet; lemmas pale yellowish grey-green; not strongly keeled; more rounded at back with keel obscure at base; palea margins almost touching along entire length; overlapping at apex; keels a obscure line; smooth or scaberulous; anthers 3; 0.8 mm long.
Densely tufted, erect perennial, 500-900 mm high; basal sheaths glabrous; leaves forming a dense basal tuft. Leaf blade up to 200 x 2 mm; usually tightly rolled and curling; ligule a fringe of hairs. Inflorescence an open panicle, delicate, lowest branches whorled. Spikelets up to 4 x 0.5-1.0 mm, laterally compressed; rachilla subpersistent, upper part fragile, lemmas and/or paleas breaking up from base upwards; glumes shorter than spikelet, 1-nerved. Florets 2 or 3(-5); lemma pale yellowish grey-green, entire, not strongly keeled, more rounded at back, keel obscure at base, 3-nerved; palea margins almost touching along entire length, overlapping at apex, keels an obscure line, smooth or scaberulous; anthers 3, 0.8 mm long. Flowering time Nov.-Apr.
Densely tufted perennial to 500-900 mm high, erect; basal sheaths glabrous; leaves forming a dense basal tuft. Leaf blade to 200 x to 2 mm, usually tightly rolled and curling. Inflorescence 50-140 mm long, open, delicate, lowest branches whorled. Spikelet to 4 x 0.5-1.0 mm, 2-3(-5) florets; glumes unequal; lower glume to 3/4 the length of lemma above; upper glume 1/3-4/5 as long as lemma above; rachilla sub-persistent, upper part fragile; lemmas and/or paleas breaking up from the base upwards; lemma 1.7-2.0 mm long, pale yellowish grey-green, back rounded and keel obscure at base or lightly keeled; palea margins almost touching along entire length, overlapping at apex, keels an obscure line, smooth or scaberulous; anthers 3, 0.7-1.0 mm long.
Caespitose perennial without rhizomes or stolons, the leaves mostly confined to the base; culms up to 60 cm tall, erect, unbranched, glabrous at the nodes, eglandular; basal leaf sheaths glabrous, chartaceous, terete, eglandular, persistent; ligule a line of hairs; leaf laminas 4–10 cm × 0.3–0.5 mm, tightly folded-setaceous, glabrous, eglandular.
Panicle 5.5–14 cm long, narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, loose and open, the spikelets evenly distributed on pedicels 1.5–3 mm long, the primary branches, or at least the lowermost, in whorls, terminating in a fertile spikelet, the lowermost thinly pilose in the axils but the remainder glabrous, eglandular.
Caryopsis not yet seen.
