Loosely tufted annuals, very variable in size, 4-70-(90) cm. Leaf-sheath ± loose, chartaceous, striate, usually finely scabrid above. Ligule (1.5)-4-9 mm, oblong, rounded, lacerate, abaxially finely scabrid. Leaf-blade (1)-6-15 cm × (1.5)-3-4.5-(8) mm, flat, minutely scabrid throughout or sometimes only on ribs near tip and on margins. Culm (3)-10-60 cm, ± erect, or ascending from geniculate base, internodes glabrous. Panicle 1-6 × 0.5-4-(7) cm, dense, cylindric to ovate-lanceolate, often lobed to ± interrupted at base; rachis smooth to scabrid above, with fascicled, finely scabrid branches and short, finely scabrid pedicels disarticulating near base. Spikelets 3-5 mm, oblong, light green, sometimes purplish, falling entire at maturity with most of pedicel attached. Glumes equalling spikelet, ± evenly scabrid, margins usually sparsely ciliate in lower ½, narrowed to shallowly notched apex with very fine, straight, terminal scabrid awn 1.5-2.5-(3) mm. Lemma 1-1.4 mm, hyaline, glabrous, elliptic-oblong, denticulate-truncate or minutely 4-toothed, usually with a fine, caducous apical awn (1.4-2.6 mm). Palea slightly shorter and narrower than lemma, keels ± excurrent. Anthers 0.5-0.7 mm. Caryopsis 0.9-1.2 × 0.4-0.5 mm.