A loosely caespitose perennial, often with short rhizomes. Culms 30-85 (-120) cm. high, 2-4-noded, erect or geniculately ascending, often rooting at the lower nodes, simple or branched, subterete, slender, smooth, glabrous but pubescent at the nodes. Leaf-sheaths striate, somewhat loose, smooth, glabrous, auriculated at the mouth; the lowermost usually longer than the internodes and often splitting into irregular fibres. Ligule 2·3-6(-9) mm. long, oblong-lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, often lacerate at the apex. Leaf-laminae 5-25(-33) x 0·2-0·36 cm., narrowly linear, tapering to a setaceous point, expanded, conduplicate or with the margins involute, usually slightly curved, flexible, glabrous, smooth or scaberulous on both surfaces. Panicle 10-28 x 1·5-3 cm., narrowly elliptic to oblong in outline, erect or somewhat nodding, often purplish; rhachis slender, terete or obtusely angular, asperulous; branches 8-12 cm. long, solitary or rarely adnate, slender, erect or rarely somewhat spreading, branched in the upper half; racemes bearing 3-7(-9) spikelets. Pedicels less than 1mm. long. Spikelets 3·5-4(-4·25) x (1·5)1·7-2 mm., elliptic-oblong or oblong; callus short. Lemma as long as the spikelet, semi-elliptic-oblong in lateral view, cartilaginous, finely transversely ridged; keel and margins with a row of semi-circularly curved cilia; flanks more or less densely covered by inwardly curved hairs similar to the cilia along the margins; lateral nerves distinct. Palea slightly shorter and narrower than the lemma and of the same consistency; keels and flanks as in the lemma; margins glabrous. Anthers c. 2·5 mm. long, linear. Caryopsis unknown.
