2n = 28

Slender, dense to lax tufts, to somewhat rhizomatous. Leaf-sheath glabrous, ± striate. Ligule 0.5-1 mm, membranous. Collar thick recurved occasionally with a few hairs. Leaf-blade 2-10 cm × 1.5-3 mm, tapering, scabrid or glabrous, shallowly ribbed; margins toothed. Culm 20-40 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 5-10 cm, very lax, spreading, branches glabrous filiform, 1-2 at each node, pedicels glabrous 1-5 mm, spikelets congested in 3s or 4s. Glumes obovate, apiculate, subacute to obtuse, membranous with scarious margins above, 3-nerved; upper 3.5-4 mm. Florets > glumes, light brown at maturity. ♂ florets: lemma 3.25-4 mm, oblong, ovate, glabrous below, finely scabrid to pubescent above, margins silky ciliate; awns 1-3 mm, slender, ± straight, insertion 2.5-3.5 mm above base; palea 2.5-3.5 mm, hairs on keels to base and elsewhere, bifid apex ciliate; lodicules 0.75-1.25 mm, ± ovate, acute, irregularly lobed, ciliate; callus hairs to 1 mm; anthers 1.5-2-2.5 mm. ☿ floret: lemma 2.5-3.5 mm, ovate, truncate, glabrous below hairy, muticous or mucronate apex; mucro subapical, 0.5-1 mm; palea 2.5-3 mm, oblong-ovate, 1-(2) keels hairy to base; lodicules 0.7-1.25 mm, ciliate; anthers (0.9)-1.2-1.9 mm; gynoecium: ovary 1 mm, stigma-styles 2.75-3.5 mm; caryopsis 2 × 0.75 mm, embryo c. 0.5 mm, hilum 0.5 mm.

Plant perennial, slender, densely to laxly tufted, to somewhat rhizomatous. Culms 20-40 cm tall with 3 to 4 elongated internodes, 2-3 cataphylls present at base, up to 2 cm long. Leaf sheath 2-10 cm long, glabrous, more or less striated. Ligule about 0.7 mm long, membranous. Collar distinct, somewhat pulvinate. Leaf blade 2-10 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, flat tapering, glabrous, scarcely striated. Vascular bundles about 11 fairly uniform. Sclerenchyma discontinuous, bilateral, connected to bundles. Peduncles long. Panicles 5-10 cm long, very lax, spreading, glabrous. Branches 1-2 at each node, filiform. Pedicels 1-5 mm long, glabrous. Glumes subequal, upper about 4 mm long, obovate, subacute to rounded, membranous wtih scarious margins above, 3-nerved, middle nerve almost percurrent, lateral 0.5 to 0.75 as long. Florets exceeding the glumes, light brown at maturity. Male florets lemmas about 4 mm long, oblong, ovate, smooth below, finely scabrid to pubescent above, villous on callus, silky ciliate on margins. Awns 1-3 mm long, slender, more or less straight exserted from 0.5-1 mm below apex. Paleas as long as lemmas. Lodicules about 1 mm long, more or less ovate, acute, irregularly lobed. Stamens about 1.8 mm long. Bisexual floret lemma about 3 mm long, ovate, truncate, smooth below tips, tip more or less long, hairy muticous or mucronate, mucro subapical, about 0.5 mm long. Palae about equalling glumes, oblong-ovate, 2-, occasionally 3-nerved.