Perennial, tufted, grayish green. Culms 30–50 cm tall, usually geniculate, thick. Ligule 2–3.5 mm; leaf blades subinrolled or conduplicate, 3–6 cm, 1.5–4 mm wide, adaxial surface and margins scabrid. Panicle contracted, but later spreading, 6–12 cm; branches 2–7 cm, scabrid. Spikelets 5–8 mm, florets 5–9; lower glume ca. 1.5 mm, 1-veined, upper glume 1.5–2 mm, inconspicuously 3-veined, apex obtuse and margins ciliate; lemmas 2.5–3.5(–4) mm, usually tinged with purple, veins pubescent on lower part, apex acuminate or obtuse; palea keels scabrid; anthers 1.2–2 mm. Fl. May–Jul. 2n = 28.