Culms tufted, geniculate at base, 50–65 cm tall, 3-or 4-noded, villous below spike. Leaf sheath shorter than internode, villous; ligule ca. 0.3 mm, membranous; leaf blade flat, 0.5–0.9 cm wide, both surfaces pilose. Spike somewhat nodding, 8–10 cm; rachis villous. Spikelets with 3 or 4 florets. Glumes subulate, unequal, keeled, 3-veined, scabrous along veins, apex tapering into scabrous awn; proximal glume ca. 9 mm including awn; distal glume ca. 10 mm including awn. Lemma ca. 15 mm including awn, 5-veined, glabrous except near apex. Palea ca. 9 mm, ciliate along keels distally. Lodicules ca. 1.6 mm. Anthers ca. 5.5 mm.