Perennial, tufted. Culms erect or obliquely ascending, 20–40 cm tall. Leaf sheaths dense at culm base, terminal sheath reaching panicle; ligule ca. 1 mm; leaf blades conduplicate, 3–10 cm, 1–2.5 mm wide, margins and adaxial surface scabrid. Panicle narrow, 5–10 × ca. 1.5 cm; branches 2 or 3 per node, obliquely ascending, scabrid, 2–3 cm, lower part naked, upper part with 2–4 spikelets. Spikelets 5–6 mm, tinged with purple at maturity, florets 2–4; glume apex obtuse or acuminate, lower glume 2–2.2 mm, upper glume 2.5–2.8 mm; lemmas 3–3.5(–4) mm, glabrous, margins ciliate, finely toothed, apex obtuse; palea keels smooth or upper part scabrid, anthers 1.5–2.2 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul.