Culms densely tufted, erect or geniculate at base, 25–70 cm tall, smooth and glabrous, puberulent at nodes, or densely retrorsely hairy throughout. Leaf sheath smooth and glabrous or densely pubescent; leaf blade glaucous, 5–10 × 0.3–0.5 cm, abaxial surface smooth and glabrous or pubescent, adaxial surface scabrous (together with margin) or puberulent. Spike erect, dense, 5–8 × 0.8–1.1 cm; rachis puberulent to densely pubescent, margin scabrous or hispidulous. Spikelets green or purplish green, 10–16 × 5–7 mm, with 3–6 florets. Glumes lanceolate, 7–11 × ca. 2.5 mm, 5-veined, glabrous, or scabrous distally, margin broadly membranous. Lemma lanceolate, 8–9 mm, densely hispidulous or pubescent; awn 2–5 mm. Palea equaling or slightly longer than lemma, ciliate along keels distally. Lodicules shortly broadly triangular or long narrowly triangular. Anthers yellow, 2–3 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.