Perennial, loosely tufted. Culms 30–100 cm tall, 2–3 mm in diam., scabrid below panicle. Leaf sheaths at base retrorsely scabrid or pubescent; leaf blades usually flat, 10–20 cm × 3–6 mm, abaxial surface scabrid, adaxial surface pubescent, midrib prominent; ligule 2–5 mm. Panicle spikelike, 5–11 cm, dense, cylindrical, sometimes lobed below, main axis hidden. Spikelets 4.5–9 mm, pallid, fertile florets 1 or 2, terminal sterile lemmas gathered into globular cluster; glumes papery, 5-veined, scabrid, lower glume ovate, 1/2–2/3 length of upper, sharply acute, upper glume lanceolate-oblong, as long as spikelet, abruptly acuminate; lemma lanceolate, 5–5.5 mm, granular-scaberulous, 7-veined, densely ciliate along marginal veins with ca. 3 mm hairs, apex subacute, second lemma (when present) shorter, glabrous. Anthers 0.6–1.2 mm; palea shorter than lemma. Fl. May–Aug. 2n = 18.
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