Culms densely tufted, 25–55 cm tall, 2-or 3-noded. Leaf sheath glabrous; ligule ca. 0.3 mm, apex truncate; leaf blade usually involute, 5–8 cm, glabrous or adaxial surface puberulent. Spike erect or slightly curved, 5–7 × ca. 0.5 cm; rachis slender, puberulent on back; internodes 6–9 mm. Spikelets 10–12 mm, with 3–5 florets. Glumes broadly lanceolate or oblong, 2–4-veined, glabrous, margin membranous, apex pungent or mucronate; proximal glume 5–7 mm; distal glume 6–8 mm. Lemma oblong-lanceolate, abaxially densely villous; first lemma 7–8 mm; awn 2–3 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, spinescent along keels distally, glabrous between keels, apex truncate. Anthers 2–2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. autumn.