Coarse annual up to 170 cm high, ascending; leaves broadly linear, hispid. Inflorescence of 3–20 racemes on an axis 4–20 cm long; racemes 1–14 cm long, bearing single spikelets on a narrowly winged rhachis. Spikelets ovate, 2.5–5.5 mm long, acuminate or with a short awn-point; lower glume elliptic-oblong, 2/3–5/6 the length of the spikelet, 3-nerved, often with a tuft of hairs from the middle of the back, obtuse; lower lemma often with a ciliate fringe; upper lemma papillose, becoming rugulose on the flanks, with a mucro 0.5 mm long.
