Perennial, forming large tussocks with thick tough roots; culms 60–150(–200) cm. high, erect.. Leaf-blades narrowly linear, 15–40 cm. long, 1–5 mm. wide, rigid, tightly folded, ribbed on the outside, the ribs smoothly flat-topped on the inside; sheaths keeled, imbricate.. Panicle linear, 10–25 cm. long, the culm scaberulous and sometimes pubescent below the panicle; rhachis with shallow angular ribs below the cupular scars, scaberulous; involucre enclosing 1 sessile spikelet, the base with a short oblong stipe 0.3–0.5 mm. long; bristles glabrous, the longest 6–30 mm.. Spikelets narrowly lanceolate, 6.5–11 mm. long; lower glume up to 1/4 the length of the spikelet, acute, rotund or truncate; upper glume 1/3–1/2 as long as the spikelet, acute to emarginate; lemmas similar, the lower ♂ or barren, the upper firmer in texture; anther-tips with or without a minute tuft of hairs.
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