Annuals, with stems rooting at lower nodes, sprawling to form loose mats. Leaf-sheath folded, strongly ribbed, light green, with several long fine spreading tubercle-based hairs. Ligule (1)-1.5-2-(2.5) mm, membranous, glabrous, truncate, erose. Leaf-blade (3.5)-5.5-10 cm × 2-7 mm, soft, linear, usually with scattered fine hairs, sometimes glabrous, ribs and margins scabrid, tapering to long, finely pointed tip. Culm (10)-20-45 cm, ascending-erect or straggling, internodes glabrous. Racemes 3-5, (3.5)-5-9.5 cm, slender, digitate (on Kermadec Is plants normally remaining bunched together) rarely spreading; rachis 3-angled, winged, 0.3-0.8 mm wide, scabrid on wing margins and sometimes on central ridge; pedicels 3-angled, scabrid on angles, short-hairy at base. Spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm, in pairs, lanceolate, long-acute, laterally with fine acute-tipped hairs. Lower glume 0, or a minute rim or scale c. 0.1 mm, upper 0.6-1-(1.5) mm, c. ¼-(⅓) length of spikelet, 0-3-nerved, triangular, obtuse to subacute, glabrous, or with long hairs on margins overtopping glume. Lower floret: lemma = spikelet, (5)-7-nerved, nerves inaequidistant, glabrous, outer internerves with long hairs. Upper floret: lemma ≈ spikelet, glabrous, acuminate, yellowish or light brownish at maturity; palea ≈ lemma, similar in texture and shape; anthers 1-1.3 mm; stigmas brown; caryopsis c. 1.5 mm, oblong.