Annual, stiff, erect, ± open tufts, (12)-20-35 cm. Leaf-sheath subcoriaceous, glabrous, rounded, ribs ± inconspicuous. Ligule 0.3-0.6 mm, truncate, erose. Leaf-blade 2-6 cm ×c. 2 mm, flat, rolled or folded and < 1 mm diam., abaxially glabrous, adaxially ribbed, with scattered minute hairs on ribs, tip acute. Culm 15-25 cm, tufted or solitary, rigid, usually loosely branched, few- to many-noded, internodes glabrous. Spikes (2.5)-5-12 cm, cylindric, stiffly erect, light green, rachis internodes ≤ spikelets, hollowed on one side, disarticulating horizontally below each spikelet at maturity. Spikelets 4.5-5.5 mm, embedded in cavities in rachis, solitary and alternating on opposite sides of rachis. Glumes ± equal and equalling spikelets, inserted side by side on rachis and appressed to it, 3-5-nerved, rigid, much thickened, narrowly oblong-subulate, acute, hyaline margins minutely papillose. Lemma 4-4.5 mm, ovate-oblong, membranous, 3-nerved, lateral nerves very faint and short. Palea ≈ lemma. Lodicules c. 1 mm. Anthers 2-3 mm. Caryopsis 2.7-3 × 0.6-0.8 mm, enclosed between hardened glumes and segments of rachis.