Perennial, tufted. Culms 20–40 cm tall. Leaf sheaths smooth; ligule 1–2.5 mm; leaf blade inrolled, 3–8 cm, 1–2 mm wide. Panicle 5–10 cm; branches paired, 3–5 cm, with axillary pad, spreading after anthesis, smooth or slightly scabrid, lower part naked, upper part with 1–3 spikelets. Spikelets 6–7 mm, tinged with purple, florets 3–5; glumes acuminate, lower glume ca. 1.5 mm, upper glume ca. 2 mm; lemmas lanceolate, 2.8–3.5 mm, base pubescent along veins, margins membranous, yellow, apex acuminate; palea keels scabrid; anthers 0.7–1.3 mm. Fl. Jul–Aug.