perennial; culms tufted, erect, sometimes geniculate, 1–2 ft. long, ovoid-bulbous at the base, glabrous, smooth, 2-noded; basal leaves 5–8; sheaths loose, glabrous, smooth, the lowest pallid, more or less open; ligules very short, ciliolate; blades linear, from a clasping (often fimbriate) base, gradually tapering to a fine point, 3–8 in. by 2–3 1/2 lin., flat or convolute, rigid or subflaccid, rather thick, glabrous or hairy, margins cartilaginous, often wavy; panicle erect or slightly flexuous, 2–6 in. long, sometimes secund; rhachis glabrous; branches usually paired or solitary, up to 1 1/2 in. long, suberect, scantily branched or simple, filiform, flexuous, glabrous; pedicels 2–8 lin. long; spikelets oblong, 5–6 1/2 lin. long; glumes subequal, ovate, acute or acuminate, 2–3 lin. long, glabrous, often purplish, 5–6 1/2 lin. long, 5–7-nerved; empty valves equal, lower ovate-oblong, much compressed, obtuse or subacute, usually mucronate, 7–9-nerved, obscurely rugose below, glabrous or pubescent above on the sides, ciliate along the margins and the straight or concave keel, bearded at the base in front and behind; upper empty valve linear, sometimes curved, usually mucronate, strongly transversely rugose, glabrous or pubescent, ciliate along the margins and the convex keel, contracted base very short and bearded, beards 1 1/2–3 lin. long; fertile valve linear-oblong, obtuse, 4–4 1/2 lin. long, glabrous, smooth, 7-nerved; pale ciliolate above; lodicules ciliate, 1 lin. long; stamens 6; anthers 3–3 1/2 lin. long; stigmas plumose. null
