A coarse caespitose annual. Culms 8-70(90) cm. tall, prostrate, decumbent or geniculate, 3-6 (or more)-noded, simple or repeatedly branched, usually rooting at the lower nodes, coarsely striate, pubescent or hirsute with tubercle-based hairs; the lower internodes short, the uppermost long-exserted but usually less slender than in S. pappophoroides. Leaf-sheaths loose, easily slipping off the culm, striate, hirsute or pubescent, viscous from gland-tipped hairs. Leaf-laminae (1)2.5-14(20) x (0.3)0.7-1.75 cm., linear-lanceolate or narrowly triangular-lanceolate, abruptly tapering to an acute apex, expanded or sometimes involute towards the apex, more rarely entirely involute, densely pubescent on both surfaces and viscous from gland-tipped hairs. Panicle (2.5)4-12(15) x 1.5-3(4) cm., erect or very rarely somewhat drooping, linear, narrowly oblong, lanceolate or rarely narrowly elliptic in outline, usually contracted, spike-like, but sometimes open and lax; branches rather short, appressed to the rhachis or at least the lower ones obliquely ascending to spreading, usually hairy. Spikelets pedicelled to subsessile, up to 1 .75 cm. long, elliptic-oblong to obovate-triangular in outline, sericeous-villous. Glumes dark green, lead-grey-green or green, apex acute to subobtuse or rarely slightly lacerate, usually with tubercle-based gland-tipped hairs, smooth or very rarely asperulous; the inferior 4.8-9(-11) mm. long, (7)9-12(14)-nerved; the superior 6.6-15 mm. long, slightly shorter than or as long as or somewhat longer than the spikelet, 9-14-nerved. Lowest lemma 7.75-15 mm. long; awns (3.2)5-10.5 mm. long. Keels of the palea, besides the stiff cilia, always with conspicuous glandular hairs either along the entire keel or confined to the apical region. Anthers 1.75-3.5 mm. long. Caryopsis c. 2 mm. long, light golden-brown or yellowish-brown, somewhat translucent; embryo a little smaller than in the proceeding sp.
