Culms to 6 m, to 3.5 cm in diam.; internodes initially deep green, green or gray-green in age, 20–40 cm, glaucous below nodes, densely setose; wall thick; cavity pith slightly granular; nodes strongly prominent. Culm sheaths orange-yellow, glaucous, with scattered clumps of readily deciduous, brown setae; ligule very short, densely ciliolate; blade erect, green, triangular or lanceolate, constricted at base, both surfaces setose. Leaves 4–7 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles small; oral setae deciduous, erect; blade abaxially light green, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, 6–14 × 1–1.5 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3-or 4-paired. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Apr.