Caespitose, phyllopodic perennial graminoid. Not viscous on sheaths. Culms terete, robust, 200-515 x 0.8-1.8 mm. Leaves basal, not channelled directly above sheath and only slightly involute with drying, often appearing flat, usually reduced in length so that less than half of culm length, margin serrate above sheath, apex acute 0-5, 9-83 x 0.2-1.4mm. Sheaths dark red at base and ivory coloured above, loose, membranaceous throughout, longitudinally striate at base. Ligule white, membranaceous, relatively long, 0.6-7 mm. Inflorescence a pseudolateral spike-like panicle, short and contracted, brown coloured when young, dark grey when past maturity, 13-38 x 4-12 mm, proximal rachis length 2-12 mm. Proximal primary inflorescence bracts firm, not channelled, apex acute to obtuse, not widened at base, 36-66 mm long, often breaking off, longitudinal veins evident but not pronounced. Proximal and subproximal primary inflorescence bracts without membranaceous extensions at base, inflorescence often appearing triangular (or compressed) between these bracts. Spikes 2-6, 6.5-23.0 mm long, overlapping. Spikelets lanceolate, 6.5-11.9 x 1.0-2.1 mm, pedicellate, 1-5 spikelets per spike, light reddish-brown in colour with some reddish-purple streaks. Proximal spikelet prophylls usually 2 per spikelet, wider hyaline margins than glumes, with notable raised central vein extending to mucro, 1.9-4.6 mm long, prophyll mucro 0.1-3.1 mm long. Rachilla 1.4-4.6 mmlong. Glumes 3-5 per spikelet, proximal glume 1.4-5.2 mm long, subproximal glume 1.8-7.5 mm long, glumes withnarrow hyaline margin, upper glumes longer and thinner than basal ones with more reddish-purple streaks, apex acute to obtuse. Glume mucros usually relatively short, proximal mucro length 0-0.9 mm, subproximal mucro length 0-1.4mm. Stamens 3-4 per floret, anthers 2.3-5.3 mm long. Stigmas 3-branched, vestigial stigmas of second bisexual usually present, vestigial stigmas of third and fourth bisexual florets sometimes present. Perianth bristles numerous (over 10) and over half the length of the spikelet. Nutlet broad elliptic, trigonous, yellowish in colour, 3.0-3.6 x 1.7-2.3 mm. Nutlet beak, 0.5-1.0 mm long, hispid, dark brown with maturity, long triangular in shape.
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