Slender to robust perennial with up to 15 cm long stolons, but when growing in narrow rock-cracks the stolons are reduced and the basal parts of the plant consist of many densely crowded swollen woody stem-bases; stems 10–70 cm long and 1–3 mm thick, triangular to subterete, glabrous. Largest leaf-blades 4–40 cm long and 1.5–5 mm wide, flat, somewhat bluish green, scabrid on margin and midrib; leaf-sheaths green to light reddish brown. Inflorescence a 1–12 cm long and 1–10 cm wide anthela consisting of 1 sessile and 1–6 stalked spikes, but usually with 1–5 secondary sessile or stalked spikes from the base of the primary spikes, but Somali plants sometimes with 5–15 spikelets per inflorescence only; bracts 2–4, leafy, erect or spreading, the largest 1–30 cm long and 1–5 mm wide. Spikes 1–5 x 1–3 cm, with 3–10 erect or spreading spikelets; rhachis only 2–10 mm long. Spikelets 8–40 x 1–1.5 mm, linear-lanceolate with acute tip, straight or curved, variegated greenish and dark reddish brown, 10–50-flowered. Glumes 2.2–3 mm long, ovate-elliptic, closely overlapping, reddish brown with a wide uncoloured marginal border and greenish midrib ending in the apex, lateral nerves absent. Stamens 3. Style 3-branched. Nutlet 1–1.2 x 0.5–0.6 mm, obovate, triangular, brown.
