2n = 90

n = 45 bivalents

2n = 90

Very tall, stout, glaucous tussock growing on peat or in bogs. Leaf-sheath internerves and margins long hairy. Ligule to 2 mm. Collar glabrous abaxially, some few short hairs adaxially. Leaf-blade to 1.5 m × 1.5 cm, tapering to long, thin point; abaxially with long interrib hairs below becoming fewer and prickle-teeth becoming dense above, adaxially with dense weft of long interrib hairs at base becoming fewer and generally glabrous except near margins; margins scabrid below becoming very scabrid above. Culm to 2 m, internodes glabrous. Inflorescence to 70 cm, dense, plumose, branches and pedicels densely long hairy, rachis less so, hairs longer below spikelet. Spikelets with 2 ☿ florets. Glumes ± equal, to 25 mm, including florets, 1-nerved, thin; upper with hairs to 10 mm from below, lower with fewer or none, elsewhere minute scattered teeth. Lemma to 9 mm, 3-nerved, scattered prickle-teeth; lateral lobes to 2 mm; hairs to 10 mm radiating from below and reaching tip of lemma, central awn to 9 mm. Palea to 7 mm, attenuated, long-hairy, apex hair-tipped, keels ciliate, interkeel and flanks glabrous above. Callus hairs to 3 mm. Rachilla to 1 mm, glabrous. Lodicules irregularly rhomboidal to 0.5 mm, hairs to 0.75 mm. Anthers 1.7-2.6 mm. Gynoecium: ovary to 0.8 mm; stigma-styles to 2.5 mm. Caryopsis ovate, rugose, shortly stipitate, to 3 mm; embryo to 1 mm; hilum to 1.5 mm.