Slender tussocky annual. Stems 10–25 cm long and 0.3–0.5 mm thick, densely short hairy. Leaves with prominent red basal sheaths contrasting brightly with the long white hairs from the orifices of the leaf-sheaths; leaf-blades 2–10 cm long and 0.3–0.5 mm wide, flat or incurved, densely short hairy. Inflorescence a lax anthela of 1 sessile spikelet subtended by 1–8 solitary spikelets or groups of spikelets. Spikelets 4–6 x 1.5–2.5 mm, light brown, ovate to lanceolate. Glumes 1.7–2 mm long, light reddish brown, but often darker near the midrib above and paler near margin, but without prominent pale marginal border, densely short-hairy both on surface and margin. Nutlet 0.6–0.7 x 0.4–0.5 mm, obovate, white to light reddish brown, with 10–15 transverse wrinkles on each of the 3 sides; the angular ribs papillose.