Tall robust perennial stoloniferous grass with loosely open to compact shoots of flat leaves, and a long nodding narrow inflorescence. Leaf-sheath 5—10 cm, keeled, frequently densely pubescent with short and long hairs, sometimes glabrous; becoming fibrous. Auricles 0.5—0.7 mm, scarcely clasping, very occasionally with 1—2 long hairs. Ligule 0.25—0.5 mm, very faintly erose. Leaf-blades 10—30 cm × 1— 2 .5 mm, flat, thin, both surfaces with abundant small prickle teeth on nerves, very occasionally with hairs 0.5 mm long between nerves abaxially and sometimes near ligule; margin prickle-toothed. Culm stout 40—100 cm, internodes glabrous, shining; nodes sometimes geniculate below. Inflorescence slender, nodding, 10—20 cm, of 20—30 spikelets > intemodes; rachis prolongation 2—6 mm. Spikelets to 15 mm, of 1—3 florets, shining. Glumes 2, 5—10 mm, equal, narrow canaliculate below soon becoming awn-like, prickle-toothed, closely appressed to floret above, < spikelet. Lemma 8—10 mm, glabrous except for prickle teeth below awn and near callus, sometime pruinose, infrequently bifid at apex; scabrid awn 5 - 6.5 mm. Palea 8—10 mm, lemma; apex produced or retuse, ciliate; keels toothed. Callus short, surrounded by short stiff hairs; disarticulation flat. Rachilla 1.8—2 mm, with abundant stiff hairs; prolongation 3—3.5 mm. Lodicules 0.7—0.8 mm. Anthers 3—3.5 mm. Gynoecium: ovary 0.75—1 mm stigma-styles to 2.5 mm. Caryopsis 5—5.5 mm; embryo 1—1.5 mm.

S. laevi similis sed ab ea distinguenda lemmate semper longe aristato ex apice plerumque integro, differt praeterea producto vel retuso paleae apice.

2n = 28

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