Perennial, with tufts of leaves arising from long rhizomes covered in long pointed scales. Culms 7–12 cm high; mid-culm internodes glabrous. Young shoots extravaginal. Leaves: basal sheaths with margins connate in lower half, glabrous or scabrous to puberulous, sometimes purplish; ligule 0.2–0.6 mm long, truncate, apically ciliolate, abaxially puberulous; blade inrolled-terete with margins narrowly overlapping, 5–25 mm long, 0.4–0.6 mm wide, rather stiffly erect, adaxially scabrous to puberulous, abaxially glabrous. Panicles contracted, often spike-like, 1.5–3 cm long. Spikelets 3.8–5.5 mm long, with 2–4 bisexual florets. Glumes 3-nerved; lower glume 1.9–3 mm long; upper glume 2.1–3.2 mm long. Web welldeveloped. Lemma 3–3.6 mm long, 5-nerved, with nerves villous in lower half; intercostal regions puberulous. Anthers 1.7–2 mm long.
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