Perennials, tussock-forming, often rhizomatous. Culms erect, herbaceous, solid, very tough; flowering culms 120–300 cm high. Leaves: basal sheaths glabrous; ligule ciliolate, 0.4–1 mm long, entire; blade usually flat, 13–22 cm long, 2–7 mm wide. Inflorescences subdigitate or appearing digitate, open or dense, 3–13 cm long, 2–11 (–15) cm wide; branches 2–13 cm long, longer than rachis, erect or spreading. Spikelets overlapping, 2.5–4 (–5) mm long, laterally compressed or subterete, with (3–) 5–7 (–9) florets (2–8 fertile). Glumes unequal in length; lower glume narrowly ovate, 1.1–1.3 mm long; upper glume 1.5–1.8 mm long, acute or obtuse, aristulate. Basal lemma ovate to elliptic, (1–) 1.8–2 mm long, entire or notched, muticous or aristulate, obtusely carinate or rounded on back, glabrous. Palea acute. Caryopsis dorsally flattened, usually not quite evenly thin, trigonous or oblate in T.S.
In most parts of its distribution, plantsare associated with watercourses, flood plains and similar betterwatered sites,often forming conspicuous, bamboo-like stands.
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