Rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennial (rhizomes sometimes short and then plants appearing caespitose in open sites). Culms 15–90 cm high; mid-culm internodes glabrous or puberulous, often purplish, sometimes weakly compressed. Young shoots mostly extravaginal. Leaves: basal sheaths with margins initially connate for most of their length but soon splitting, subvelutinous or minutely pubescent or glabrous, usually distinctly purplish; ligule 0.4–1.9 mm long, obtuse or truncate or occasionally apiculate, apically ciliolate, abaxially hairy; blade usually folded (occasionally flat in shaded situations), 6.5–30 cm long, 3–5.5 mm wide, adaxially puberulous to pubescent, abaxially glabrous to pubescent. Panicles contracted to open, 3–25 cm long. Spikelets (2–) 3.2–8 mm long, with 2–7 bisexual florets, often purplish. Glumes: lower glume 1.7–3.4 mm long, 3-nerved; upper glume 1.9–3.8 mm long, 3 (–5)-nerved. Web absent or rudimentary. Lemma (1.5–) 2.3–3.8 mm long, 5-nerved, puberulous in lower half, with hairs usually longer and denser on keel and margins. Anthers 1.4–2.4 mm long.
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