Slender tufted perennial, culms erect, often branched, to 120 cm high. Leaves mostly cauline, glabrous, smooth or slightly scabrous; blade closely inrolled, to 15 cm long and 1 mm diam.; ligule densely ciliate, c. 0.3 mm long. Inflorescence a slender panicle or raceme, to 20 cm long (excluding awns); glumes unequal, narrow-acuminate, the lower 8–14 mm long, usually notched at the apex with the nerve continuing beyond the notch as a short awn, the upper 15–28 mm long, awnless; lemma convolute, narrow-cylindric, 8–15 mm long, glabrous except for short, white callus hairs, surface pale, smooth; column of awn 20–40 mm long, articulate on lemma, awn branches purplish only when very young, subequal, 25–60 mm long. Flowers most of year, probably following rain.