Culms densely tufted, ca. 60 cm tall, 1.5–2 mm in diam., 2-or 3-noded, glabrous but pubescent below spike. Leaf sheath lacerate-fibrous at base, glabrous; ligule ca. 0.5 mm, scarious-membranous; leaf blade flat or rolled, (6–)7–8 × ca. 0.3 cm, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface villous. Spike erect, 8–12 × 0.4–0.6 cm; rachis densely pubescent; internodes 5–10 mm. Spikelets ovate, 15–20 mm, with (5–)7 or 8 florets; rachis pubescent; internodes 1–1.8 mm. Glumes oblong, sometimes oblique, subequal, 6.7–7.5 mm, herbaceous, 3–5-veined, glabrous but hirsute along veins, apex pointed or with a tooth on one side. Lemma 7–9 mm, villous; awn 1–4 mm. Palea slightly shorter than or equaling lemma, pubescent, ciliolate along keels, apex truncate. Anthers yellow or purple, 2–3 mm. Caryopsis dark brown, ca. 7 mm. Fl. and fr. late summer. 2n = 42*.