Erect, caespitose perennial. Culms 25–80 cm tall, c. 3-noded; mid-culm nodes at leaf sheathblade junction glabrous. Leaves: basal sheaths glabrous, purple; upper sheaths scabrous; ligules (4–) 6–8 mm long, acute becoming lacerate; blade involute when young, becoming flat with senescence, 5–15 (–20) cm long, 0.2–1.5 mm wide. Panicles open, 10–35 cm long, exserted, strongly purple; peduncle scabrous; primary branches whorled, divaricate to spreading. Spikelets many, (3.2–) 3.4–3.7 (–4) mm long; pedicels scabrous; rachilla extension plumose, 1.2–1.6 mm long including hairs. Glumes diverging, unequal with lower one longer. Lemma 1.5–1.8 mm long, hairy, 5-nerved, 4-toothed or with lateral nerves prolonged as short setae, awned; awn arising from near mid-point of lemma, (4.3–) 5–6 (–6.5) mm long, strongly geniculate. Palea shorter than lemma, entire. Stamens 3; anthers 0.4–0.5 (–0.6) mm long.
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