Perennial, densely tufted. Culms 5–23 cm tall, 0.5–0.8 mm in diam., 1-noded. Leaf blades filiform, 2–6 cm, abaxial surface smooth or scaberulous; ligule oblong, 0.4–1.2 mm. Panicle open, ovate in outline, 2–5.2 × 1–3 cm; branches single or paired, loosely ascending or spreading, prominent axillary cushions present, capillary, bare in lower part; pedicels 3–12 mm. Spikelets whitish with purplish base; glumes oblanceolate to elliptic-oblong, 2.6–3.5 mm, lower glume 1–3-veined, upper glume 3–5-veined, apex scaberulous, obtuse; lemma 2.2–2.7 mm, pilose below middle, densely scaberulous above; awn 0.6–1 cm, column twisted, plumose, hairs 1.2–2 mm; palea subequal to lemma, 2-veined. Anthers 1–1.4 mm, bearded at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.