Erect, caespitose short-lived perennial. Culms to c. 65 cm tall, 2 or 3-noded; midculm node glabrous, with internode scaberulous. Leaves: basal sheaths smooth to scaberulous; ligule 2–8 mm long, obtuse, becoming laciniate with age; blade folded, to 35 cm long, usually c. 1 mm wide (rarely to 2 mm). Panicles open, to c. 30 cm long, usually well exserted, purple, with 2–5 branches in lower whorl; peduncle retrorsely scabrid. Spikelets few–many, 4.5–7.5 mm long, pedicel clavate and antrorsely scabrid; rachilla extension 1.5–3.5 mm long, plumose. Glumes diverging, acuminate, sometimes extending into setae to c. 0.4 mm long. Lemma 3–5.5 mm long, hairy or glabrous, 5-nerved, 4-toothed, with at least 2 of the teeth extending into fine setae 0.5–1.5 mm long, awned; awn arising 10–20 (–25)% of lemma length from base, 6–12.5 mm long, bent. Palea c. 80% lemma length, long-bifid with nerves prolonged into setae to 1.2 mm long. Stamens 3; anthers c. 1.5 mm long.
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