Perennial, tufted, grayish green. Culms erect, 30–60 cm tall, hard, grayish green. Ligule ca. 1.5 mm; leaf blades recurved, straight, 5–10 cm, 2–4 mm wide, margins scabrid. Panicle 8–15 cm; branches 3–5 per node, 2–6 cm, scabrid, spreading after anthesis. Spikelets linear-lanceolate, 5–8 mm, florets 5–6; glumes obtuse, lower glume ca. 1.5 mm, upper glume ca. 2.5 mm; lemmas 2.7–3.5 mm, marginal veins pubescent at base, apex scarious; palea keels scabrid in upper half; anthers 1.5–2 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul.