Loosely to densely tufted, erect annuals, 25-35-(85) cm, green or yellow-green, often purplish near base. Leaf-sheath strongly compressed, firm, but ± membranous towards margins, glabrous, flattened and keeled. Ligule ciliate, hairs 0.5-1.5 mm. Leaf-blade (3)-5-15-(23) cm × (2.5)-3-5-(6) mm, flat, soft, linear or linear-lanceolate, distinctly twisted, tapering above, glabrous, or adaxially slightly scabrid and with long, fine, soft, tubercle-based hairs towards base; margins very minutely scabrid, tip slender, acuminate. Culm 15-65-(75) cm, compressed, erect or geniculate-ascending, rooting at lower nodes, internodes scabrid, to ± densely minutely pubescent below panicle. Panicle (1)-2.5-10 cm × 5-15 mm, cylindric, dense-flowered; rachis densely pubescent, with numerous, very short, close-set, pubescent branches, each usually bearing a single spikelet, sometimes with 1-2 abortive spikelets, subtended by 5-10 greenish to golden brown, antrorsely scabrid, unequal bristles (5-8.5 mm). Spikelets 2.5-3.5 mm, pale green at first, later purple, falling entire at maturity. Lower glume 0.8-1.7 mm, ovate, acute or apiculate, 3-nerved, upper 1.7-2.3 mm, subacute, 5-nerved, ovate-orbicular, convex. Lower floret usually Ø, rarely ♂: lemma 5-nerved, acute; palea ≈ lemma, hyaline; anthers 0.9-1.4 mm, or 0. Upper floret ☿: lemma = spikelet, crustaceous, prominently transversely rugose, becoming yellowish or brownish, broadly naviculate, very convex, sometimes apiculate; palea of same texture but ≤ lemma, keels rounded and thickened, minutely hairy towards apex, otherwise glabrous; anthers 0.9-1.6 mm; caryopsis c. 1.5-2 mm.