tufted; innovation shoots extravaginal; culms shortly ascending, sometimes geniculate, about 1/2 ft. high (exclusive of the panicle), usually scabrid below the panicle, 1–2-noded, internodes enclosed or very shortly exserted; leaves glabrous; sheaths mostly rather loose, prominently striate, smooth or slightly rough; ligules ovate, rounded, 1–1 1/2 lin. long; blades linear, tapering to a fine point, 4–6 in. by 2–3 lin., convolute in bud, then flat, or involute when dry, green or glaucous on the upper side, smooth except on the scabrid margins or rough above, 9–13-nerved, nerves very prominent above; panicle large, subcorymbose, over 1/2 ft. long, base enclosed in uppermost sheath or very shortly exserted; rhachis straight, angular, or acutely ancipitous above, very scabrid; branches 2–3-(rarely 4-)nate, distant, 4–6 in. long, straight, at first suberect, then spreading, spinulously scabrid along the angles, with 4–1 spikelets near the tips; pedicels very unequal, very short, up to 8 lin. long; spikelets 3–5-flowered, oblong to elliptic, 4–5 lin. long, light green, erect; glumes unequal to subequal, lanceolate in profile, about 2 lin. long, acute, lower smaller, upper broader, margins scarious; valves lanceolate in profile, acute, 3 1/2 lin. long, herbaceous-chartaceous, stoutly 5-ribbed, scaberulous, at least towards the rigid tips, keels stout, scabrid; lodicules unequally 2-lobed, 1/2 lin. long; anthers 1 1/2 lin. long; ovary top puberulous. null
