Tufted, shortly rhizomatous perennial up to 60(–100) cm high. False panicle typically scanty, up to 30 cm long; spatheoles linear-lanceolate, 3–8 cm long, reddish; peduncle about as long as the spatheole, with or without spreading white hairs above. Racemes never deflexed, 2–4 cm long, 8- to 13(–16)-awned per pair; raceme-bases unequal, the upper 2.5–5 mm long, filiform; homogamous spikelet-pairs 1 at the base of the lower or both racemes. Sessile spikelet 4–6.5 mm long, villous; awn 10–35 mm long. Pedicelled spikelet 3–7 mm long, white-villous.
Range
N1–3 Mediterranean region eastwards through Arabia to Pakistan, and southwards to South Africa, but absent from much of tropical Africa.
