Perennial. Culms tufted, robust, 1–3 m tall, 0.5–1 cm in diam. Leaf sheaths glabrous, basal sheaths strongly compressed; leaf blades 20–80 × 0.5–1 cm, scabrid, midvein distinct, narrowed to subrounded at base, acuminate; ligule subrounded, ca. 1 mm, ciliate. Compound panicle large, much branched, branches bearing several spathes, each spathe subtending a further spathe and up to 3 spatheoles with racemes; spatheoles 2.5–5 cm, minutely scaberulous-puberulous; peduncle pilose at apex. Raceme composed of 1(–2) spikelet pairs and a terminal triad above the involucre of 2 homogamous pairs. Homogamous spikelets arising at slightly different levels, 12–15 mm, linear-lanceolate, wingless, minutely scaberulous-puberulous. Sessile spikelet 6–7.5 mm; callus 2–3 mm, acuminate; lower glume dorsally compressed, oblong-lanceolate, densely golden strigose; upper lemma stipitiform; awn 4–8 cm. Pedicelled spikelet 12–15 mm, male or barren. Fl. and fr. Jul–Dec.
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