2n = 40–44

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Densely tufted, wiry perennial with leaves drooping above, delicate nodding panicles, and short, creeping rhizome; branching extravaginal. Sheath to 15 cm, firm, usually ciliate along outer margin. Ligule to 1.5 mm, usually asymmetrical, entire to fimbriate. Lamina to 45 cm × 6 mm, stiff, involute or flat, abaxially shining, minutely scabrous towards filiform tip, adaxially smooth, dull, margins scabrous. Culms to 75 cm, simple, erect to nodding above, smooth, glabrous, rarely scaberulous below panicle; nodes glabrous. Inflorescence to 60 cm; branches capillary, spreading, in distant whorls, rachis slender, smooth, rarely scaberulous, branches and pedicels scaberulous. Spikelets laterally subcompressed, pale green to purplish. Glumes subequal, 2.5-3.5 mm, hyaline, acute to acuminate, scabrous on keel; lower linearlanceolate, 1-nerved, upper elliptic lanceolate, 1-3- nerved. Lemma 2 mm, 3-nerved, firmly membranous, elliptic-oblong, smooth below, scaberulous above, lobes minute; awn to 8 mm, fine, scabrous, curved, caducous. Palea < lemma, weakly nerved, smooth. Callus minute, rounded, with ring of very minute hairs. Flower hermaphrodite. Lodicules 2, ligulate, glabrous, nerveless, 0.5 mm. Anther 1, 0.8-1.4 mm, apically thickened. Caryopsis c. 1.5 mm; hilum elliptic, < ½ length of caryopsis. Chasmogamous.