Perennial, rhizomatous; rhizomes long, thick. Culms robust, hard, 80–110 cm tall, 5–8 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths not prominently keeled, lower sheaths scabrid, with transverse veinlets; leaf blades flat or margins inrolled, firm, up to 40 cm × 5–12 mm, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface scabrid, transverse veinlets present, apex abruptly acute; ligule 0.3–1 mm. Panicle ovate in outline, 15–25 cm, exserted, spikelets many; branches 2 or 3 per node, ascending, scabrid. Spikelets elliptic to ovate-oblong, 6–8 mm, florets 4–7, pale green, yellowish brown at maturity; glumes ovate-oblong, membranous, 1-veined, lower glume 1.5–2 mm, upper glume 1.8–2.5 mm, apex obtuse; lemmas lanceolate-oblong, thinly herbaceous, 3–3.5 mm, minutely granular, 7-veined, veins finely scabrid, margins and apex membranous, apex subacute; palea as long as or slightly longer than lemma, keels wingless, scaberulous, apex emarginate. Stamens 2, anthers 0.6–0.8 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep. 2n = 20.