Perennial, rhizomatous. Culms 0.6–2 m tall, 2–6 mm in diam. Leaf sheaths glabrous; leaf blades lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 8–30 × 0.3–2.2 cm, glabrous or abaxial surface tuberculate-hispid, margins scabrid, base narrow, apex acuminate; ligule 0.5–1 mm. Panicle open, lanceolate-oblong in outline, 6–27 cm; branches 2–8 cm, much branched, ultimate branchlets articulated, bearded at articulation; racemes mostly reduced to a solitary, readily disarticulating spikelet, or 1 or 2 pedicelled spikelets also present; branchlets and pedicels slender, glabrous, 6–7 mm, as long as or longer than spikelets. Spikelets 4.5–5 mm; callus hairs 2–3 mm, soft; lower glume lanceolate, softly pilose, hairs ca. 2 mm, grayish white or purplish; lower floret staminate, palea well developed; upper lemma 2-lobed to below middle; awn 8–12 mm. Anthers 3–3.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Nov.
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