Perennial, tufted. Culms erect, 10–30 cm tall, 1–1.6 mm in diam., nodes slightly geniculate. Ligule 0.7–1.5 mm; leaf blade 2–6 cm, 0.5–2 mm wide. Panicle 3–10 × 1.5–3 cm; branches mostly 1–3 per node, 3–5 cm, thin, smooth, lower part naked, upper part with a few spikelets. Spikelets 2.5–4 mm, usually tinged with purple, rarely yellowish brown, florets 2–4; lower glume 0.5–1 mm, upper glume 1.3–1.8 mm; lemmas 1.5–2.3 mm, glabrous, apex obtuse-truncate; palea keels smooth; anthers 0.8–1.2 mm. Fl. Jun–Aug.