Perennial, loosely tufted. Culms 5–25(–30) cm tall, soft. Leaf blades flat or conduplicate, soft, 3–10 cm, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, smooth. Panicle cylindrical, contracted or spreading, 2–5 cm; branches 1–2 cm, smooth, lower part naked, spikelets 1–3 at branch tips. Spikelets 5–8 mm, usually purply tinged, florets 3–7; glumes ovate, apex subobtuse, lower glume 1–1.5 mm, upper glume 2–2.5 mm; lemmas elliptic, 2.7–4.5 mm, usually purple tinged, glabrous, keeled, apex acute; palea keels scabrid; anthers 1.5–2.5 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul. 2n = 14.
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