2n = 84

Lax tufts. Leaf-sheath glabrous, keeled, ± striate. Ligule 3-5 mm, membranous, rounded, abaxially hairy. Collar thick, glabrous. Leaf-blade 7-30 cm × 4-8 mm, tapering, ± strict, subconvolute, subcoriaceous, abaxially and on margins glabrous, adaxially prickle-toothed on edges of and between prominent flat-topped ribs. Culm to 50 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 5-12 cm, rather dense, scarcely spreading, ± nodding; branches usually binate at nodes, glabrous, lower branches subtended by lanceolate bracts; pedicels to 5 mm, scabrid to pilose above. Glumes subequal, ovate-lanceolate, acute, membranous, almost entirely scarious, keel toothed above, 3-nerved; upper 10-14 mm. Florets included by glumes, light brown at maturity. ♂ florets: lemma 6-7 mm, ovate-oblong, lobes erose 2-4 mm and scarious-tipped, ± appressed long hairs on keel above shorter below, margins sparsely ciliate; awns c. 6 mm, slender, ± straight, insertion c. 3 mm above base; palea 5-6 mm, ciliate apex bifid, keels hairy above; lodicules 1-1.25 mm, ovate-lanceolate, irregularly 1-2-lobed; callus short, hairs 0.5 mm appressed; anthers 2-3.3 mm. ☿ floret: lemma 4-5 mm, broadly ovate, glabrous, appressed shortly hairy at apex with slender subapical mucro 0-0.5-1 mm; palea ≈ lemma, ovate-oblong, 1-keel, hairy above; lodicules 0.6-1 mm, glabrous; anthers 1.3-2 mm; gynoecium: ovary c. 1 mm, stigma-styles 4.5-6.5 mm; caryopsis c. 2 mm, embryo c. 0.5 mm, hilum c. 0.5 mm.

Plant perennial, laxly tufted. Culms 25-50 cm tall with 3 internodes elongating. Cataphylls 2-3 at base up to 5 cm long. Leaf sheath 4-20 cm long, glabrous, more or less striated. Ligule about 5 mm long, rounded above, membranous. Collar distinct, somewhat pulvinate. Leaf blade 7-30 cm long 4-8 mm wide, tapering, more or less strict, subconvolute, subcoriaceous, glabrous, adaxial surface deeply striate, ridges flat-topped. Vascular bundles about 25, fairly uniform. Sclerenchyma rather strongly developed, discontinuous, connected to bundles, T-shaped under the ridges. Peduncles often shorter than subtending sheath. Panicle 5-10 cm long, scarcely spreading, rather dense, somewhat nodding, glabrous. Branches mostly geminate, at lowest 2 or 3 nodes subtended by lanceolate bracts. Pedicels very short to 5 mm long, scabrid to pilose above. Glumes subequal, upper 12-14 mm long, ovate lanceolate, acute, keeled, membranous, almost entirely scarious, 3-nerved, middle nerve percurrent, lateral 2-3 mm long. Florets included within glumes, light brown at maturity. Male florets about 7 mm long, ovate-oblong, erose and scarious tipped, appressed pilose above along the back and callus, margins thinly ciliate. Awns about 6 mm long, slender more or less straight exserted from about 3 mm below apex. Lodicules about 1 mm long, ovatelanceolate, irregularly 1-2 lobed. Anthers about 3 mm long. Bisexual floret lemma about 5 mm long, broad ovate, appressed pubescent at apex, glabrous below. Mucro about 1 mm long, slender, subapical. Palea about equalling lemma, ovate oblong.