Culms densely tufted, erect or geniculate at base, 50–70 cm tall. Leaf blade usually involute, ca. 10 × 0.3 cm. Spike curved, slender, rather lax, 10–15(–20) cm; rachis pilosulose only distally. Spikelets 16–22 mm, with 6–9 florets. Glumes soft, herbaceous, glabrous, margin membranous; proximal glume ca. 4 mm, 3-veined; distal glume 6–7 mm, 5-veined. Lemma lanceolate, 5-veined, hirsutulous, apex acute, acuminate, or with awn 1–2 mm; first lemma to 11 mm including awn. Palea slightly longer than lemma, ciliolate along keels. Fl. and fr. late summer. 2n = 42*.