Perennial, densely tufted, old basal sheaths forming tight clusters. Culms 10–30 cm tall, 0.6–1 mm in diam., 2-noded. Leaf blades setaceous, 5–15 cm, abaxial surface smooth; ligule obtuse, 0.5–2 mm. Panicle contracted, 2–5 × 1–2 cm, lowest branches enclosed by a sheathing lanceolate membranous bract, smaller bracts present at base of some upper branches; branches usually paired, 1–2 cm, suberect, spikelets few. Spikelets dark purple or purplish red with white scarious apices; glumes elliptic, 4–6.3 mm, lower glume 1-veined, upper glume 3-veined, apex smooth, acute; lemma 3.5–5 mm, pilose below middle, scabrid above, apex 2-toothed, teeth 0.3–0.5 mm; awn 1–1.5 cm, plumose, hairs 1–1.5 mm, shorter toward apex, column loosely twisted; palea subequal to lemma, 2-veined. Anthers 1.5–2.2 mm, bearded at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.
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