Inferior floret sterile without a palea, its lemma membranous and light green to purple.
Inferior glume up to 1/3, the superior to 1/2 length of spikelet.
Spikelets 2–3 mm long, lanceolate-elliptic, dorsally compressed.
Culms 60–250 cm. high, the nodes glabrous.
Leaf laminae narrow, often convolute.
Superior lemma punctate.
Tussocky perennial.