Culms densely tufted, 15–40(–60) cm tall, 2-or 3-noded, glabrous, rarely hairy just below spike. Leaf sheath grayish brown at base when older, glabrous; ligule 0.2–0.6 mm; leaf blade flat to subinvolute, 1–13 × 0.1–0.3 cm, abaxial surface glabrous to scabrous, adaxial surface scabrous to pubescent. Spike ovate, 1–2 × 1–1.3 cm, villous; rachis brittle. Spikelets usually (2 or)3 per node, whitish green or grayish green, with 1(or 2) florets. Glumes setiform, (5–)6–8 mm, with dense, strongly patent, long hairs. Lemma densely patent villous, 7–9 mm including awn 1–2.5 mm. Palea 6–8(–9) mm, sparsely pilose, densely ciliate along keels, apex acute. Anthers yellowish, 3–4 mm. Caryopsis 3.5–4 mm. Fl. and fr. summer. 2n = 28.