Perennial, densely tufted. Culms stout, 20–40 cm tall, 1.5–3 mm in diam., 3–5-noded, nodes often geniculate. Leaf sheaths loose, terminal sheath ca. 10 cm, often enclosing base of inflorescence; ligule ca. 3 mm, broadly ovate; leaf blade flat or conduplicate or inrolled, 6–18 cm, 1–3 mm wide, margins and adaxial surface scabrid. Panicle spreading, 12–20 × 2–3 cm; branches paired, 3–5 cm, obliquely ascending, scabrid, lower part naked. Spikelets 5–9 mm, florets 3–5; glumes oblong, apex acuminate, lower glume 1.8–2.5(–3) mm, upper glume 2.2–3.2 mm; lemma 3.5–4(–4.5) mm, glabrous, keeled toward apex, apex acuminate; palea keels smooth on lower part, scabrid upward; anthers 2–2.6 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul.