Loosely tufted annuals, very variable in size, 4-70-(90) cm. Leaf-sheath ± loose, chartaceous, striate, usually finely scabrid above. Ligule (1.5)-4-9 mm, oblong, rounded, lacerate, abaxially finely scabrid. Leaf-blade (1)-6-15 cm × (1.5)-3-4.5-(8) mm, flat, minutely scabrid throughout or sometimes only on ribs near tip and on margins. Culm (3)-10-60 cm, ± erect, or ascending from geniculate base, internodes glabrous. Panicle 1-6 × 0.5-4-(7) cm, dense, cylindric to ovate-lanceolate, often lobed to ± interrupted at base; rachis smooth to scabrid above, with fascicled, finely scabrid branches and short, finely scabrid pedicels disarticulating near base. Spikelets 3-5 mm, oblong, light green, sometimes purplish, falling entire at maturity with most of pedicel attached. Glumes equalling spikelet, ± evenly scabrid, margins usually sparsely ciliate in lower ½, narrowed to shallowly notched apex with very fine, straight, terminal scabrid awn 1.5-2.5-(3) mm. Lemma 1-1.4 mm, hyaline, glabrous, elliptic-oblong, denticulate-truncate or minutely 4-toothed, usually with a fine, caducous apical awn (1.4-2.6 mm). Palea slightly shorter and narrower than lemma, keels ± excurrent. Anthers 0.5-0.7 mm. Caryopsis 0.9-1.2 × 0.4-0.5 mm.
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Annual, tufted. Culms geniculate, sometimes trailing and rooting at lower nodes, 10–75 cm tall. Leaf blades linear or broadly linear, 2.5–15 cm, 3–10 mm wide, scabrid or adaxial surface smooth, apex acute; ligule 3–8 mm. Panicle densely cylindrical, slightly lobed, or looser and narrowly ovate, 4–15 cm, pale green or flushed purple; branches narrowly ascending, up to 4 cm, bearing densely clustered spikelets. Spikelets narrowly oblong, 2–2.5 mm; glumes narrowly oblong, puberulous, vein scabrid-aculeate, margins shortly ciliate in lower half, apex emarginate, awned from sinus; awn shorter than or up to 1.5 times as long as glume body; lemma elliptic, 1–1.2 mm, apex slightly 4-toothed, midvein extended into a fine, straight, ca. 2 mm awn; palea as long as lemma. Stamens 3, anthers ca. 0.7 mm. Caryopsis elliptic, ca. 1 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr–Sep.
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