In dense robust tussocks, 60–200 cm. high from a very stout woody rootstock. Culms 4–6 mm. diam. Lvs up to 300 cm. long; sheaths dull pinkish brown, open, up to 5 cm. wide at base; lamina very harsh, scabrid right across the abaxial surface, margins strongly involute when dry, scabrid; lamina when dry becoming undulate for some distance above the transverse line demarcating sheath from lamina. Panicle rigid, 18–75 × c. 6 cm., with erect, stiff branchlets, primary branchlets up to 25 cm. long. Spikelets 2-fld, 6–7 mm. long, stalked, light chestnut-brown to dark brown. Glumes 6–7; 3–4 outer glumes 6–7 mm. long, empty; 3 inner glumes enclosing fr., brown. Stamens 4–5. Style-branches (2)–3–4. Nut 3.5–4 × 1.5–2 mm., elliptic-obovoid, us. light red-brown with a band of darker brown round the centre, or the upper half dark brown, occ. dark brown at base and tip and then almost black at the centre, tipped with a small scabrid point; endocarp transversely grooved within.