Tufted perennial up to 2 m high; leaves linear, finely tapered. Inflorescence 10–20 cm long, composed of up to 20 slender flexuous racemes each 5–16 cm long, clustered towards the tip of the main axis and bearing clearly secund spikelets. Spikelets 4–5.5 mm long, 6- to 9-flowered, laterally compressed; lower glume 1.3–1.8 mm long; upper glume 1.7–2.4 mm long; lemma 1.8–2.4 mm long, keeled, shortly hairy on the nerves, emarginate to bluntly 2-lobed. Grain concavo-convex with free pericarp.
