Perennial, shortly rhizomatous. Culms erect, 60–130 cm tall, 2.5–5 mm in diam., unbranched. Leaf sheaths glabrous, mouth tuberculate-hispid; leaf blades linear-lanceolate, 20–50 × 1–1.5 cm, glabrous, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface scabrid, base narrowed, lower blades pseudopetiolate, apex acute; ligule 2–3 mm. Panicle open, ovate in outline, 5–15 cm; branches 3–6 cm, distal part branched; racemes 1–3-noded, articulation lines present, not bearded, not disarticulating at maturity, spikelets of a pair both pedicellate; rachis internodes 2–4 mm; pedicels unequal, clavate upward, shorter pedicel stout. Spikelets 4–5 mm, plump; callus hairs 0.2–0.5 mm; lower glume broadly lanceolate, glabrous to hispid, veins smooth except near apex, apex emarginate, minutely mucronate; upper glume with mucro to 0.5 mm; lower floret sterile; upper lemma 2-lobed in upper 1/3; awn 0–5 mm. Anthers 2–3 mm. Fl. and fr. summer–autumn.