A tufted annual. Culms erect or slightly geniculate, up to 1 1/2 ft. high, very slender, simple, or branched near the base, 2–3-noded, glabrous and smooth; upper internodes finally exserted. Leaves glabrous; sheaths narrow, finely striate, smooth; ligule hyaline, oblong, 1–2 1/2 lin. long; blade narrowly linear, acute, 1–3 1/2 in. long, flat, or rolled when dry, up to 1/2 lin. wide, thin, finely and closely nerved, minutely asperulous. Panicle ovate, loose, 1 1/2–3 1/2 in. long, 1/2–1 1/2 in. wide; rhachis very slender, smooth; branches paired, bare and simple towards the base, loosely trichotomously divided above, flexuous, glabrous and smooth; pedicels capillary, smooth, unequal, 1–2 1/2 lin. long, with the tips slightly thickened. Spikelets scattered, 1 1/2 lin. long, pale green or purplish. Glumes scaberulous on the keel upwards. Valves 1–1 1/4 lin. long, minutely asperulous; callus bearded with white hairs 1/4– 1/2 lin. long; awn 2–3 lin. long, geniculate at the middle, with the bristle spreading at a right angle. Valvule 7/8–1 lin. long. Lodicules nearly 1/2 lin. long. Anthers 1/10– 1/6 lin. long. Grain 2/3 lin. long.
