Large stout tufts 100–250 cm. high, from a thick woody rootstock. Culms c. 1 cm. diam., up to 1.5 cm. diam. at base. Lvs ± = culms; lamina very harsh, margins involute and scabrid with a few longitudinal rows of teeth just inside margin on abaxial surface of lf; sheaths up to 30 cm. long, dull brownish black. Panicle 40–70–(90) cm. long, drooping, much-branched, primary branchlets up to 40 cm. long. Spikelets 2-fld, 6–7 mm. long, stalked, dark red-brown to blackish brown. Glumes 6–7; 3–4 outermost empty, 5–6 mm. long, 3 inner glumes c. 4 mm. long, in young fls white with a red-brown tip, becoming dark red-brown throughout as fr. matures. Stamens 4–(6). Style-branches 3. Nut 3.5–4–(4.5) mm. long, slightly < 2 mm. diam., elliptic-obovoid, smooth and shining, yellow-cream at first, us. becoming reddish brown when fully ripe; endocarp transversely grooved within.