2n = 28

Erect, open, rather stiff, shortly rhizomatous perennial, forming extravaginal tufts, to c. 30 cm tall, with leaves bright green adaxially, and blue-green abaxially; laminae persistent. Sheaths lightcoloured, green to creamy-brown or purplish, later grey, membranous, shining, glabrous and smooth, nerves obvious; ligule c. 0.5-1 mm long, entire, truncate to obtuse, smooth across top, glabrous or with a few minute teeth abaxially; lamina (1.5)-5- 20-(25) cm × 1.5-3-(4)mm, flat or folded, subcoriaceous, abaxially glabrous, usually minutely scabous adaxially along nerves and on midrib near blunt, curved tip, margins smooth or scabrous, sometimes longer ciliate-scabrous just above ligule. Culms (4.5)-10-20-(35) cm tall, erect, often only slightly overtopping leaves but sometimes much longer, smooth. Panicle (2.5)-4-6-(9.5) cm long, open, with few [1-(3)] large spikelets borne at tips of slender smooth branchlets, pedicels rarely slightly scabrous. Spikelets 5-8.5 mm long, (3)-4-5-(7)- flowered, light green to usually purplish. Glumes rather unequal, elliptic, subacute to subobtuse, submembranous, smooth except occasionally for some minute teeth on midnerve; lower glume 2.5-5 mm long, (1)-3-nerved, upper 3.5-5-(6) mm long, 3-(5)- nerved. Lemmas 3.5-5.5 mm long, 5-(7)-nerved, elliptic-oblong, subobtuse, long-ciliate on midnerve to about ½ length and on lateral nerves near base, scabrous on midnerve above and usually on lateral nerves, internerves usually smooth and glabrous. Palea 3-4.5 mm long, ciliate-scabrous on keels, sparsely ciliate between keels, or glabrous. Lodicules 0.5-0.7 mm long. Callus with web of soft tangled hairs. Rachilla c. 0.5 mm long, very minutely papillose. Anthers 1.6-2.7 mm long. Caryopsis c. 2 × 0.7 mm. 2n = 28 (also for plant determined as P. cheesemanii).

Erect, open, rather stiff, shortly rhizomatous perennial tufts, to c. 30 cm, with leaves blue-green abaxially and bright green adaxially; branching extravaginal; leaf-blades persistent. Leaf-sheath light-coloured, green to creamy brown or purplish, later grey, membranous, shining, glabrous, obviously ribbed. Ligule c. 0.5-1 mm, apically glabrous, truncate to obtuse, abaxially smooth or with a few minute prickle-teeth. Leaf-blade (1.5)-5-20-(25) cm × 1.5-3-(4) mm, flat or folded, subcoriaceous, abaxially smooth, adaxially usually minutely scabrid on midrib and lateral ribs near blunt, curved tip; margins smooth or scabrid, sometimes with short hairs just above ligule. Culm (4.5)-10-20-(35) cm, erect, often only slightly overtopping leaves but sometimes much longer, internodes glabrous. Panicle (2.5)-4-6-(9.5) cm, open, with 1-(3) large spikelets borne at tips of slender smooth branches; pedicels usually smooth, rarely slightly scabrid. Spikelets 5-8.5 mm, (3)-4-5-(7)-flowered, light green to usually purplish. Glumes rather unequal, elliptic, subacute to subobtuse, submembranous, smooth except occasionally for some minute prickle-teeth on midnerve; lower 2.5-5 mm, (1)-3-nerved, upper 3.5-5-(6) mm, 3-(5)-nerved. Lemma 3.5-5.5 mm, 5-(7)-nerved, elliptic-oblong, subobtuse, long-ciliate on midnerve in lower ½ and on lateral nerves near base, scabrid on midnerve above hairs and usually on lateral nerves, internerves usually glabrous. Palea 3-4.5 mm, keels ciliate-scabrid, interkeel with sparse minute hairs, or glabrous. Callus with web of soft tangled hairs. Rachilla c. 0.5 mm, very minutely papillose. Lodicules 0.5-0.7 mm. Anthers 1.6-2.7 mm. Caryopsis c. 2 × 0.7 mm. 2n= 28.