Vigorous, long-rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial. Stems decumbent, or occasionally ascending through vegetation, bark etc., to 3 m when supported. Leaf-blades flat or folded, to 25 (but commonly only to c. 5) cm long and 6 mm wide, glabrous or with scattered hairs; sheaths ciliate along margins, sometimes with scattered hairs over surface; ligules 1–2 mm long. Inflorescence remaining wholly or largely enclosed within uppermost leaf-sheath, c. 1–2 cm long, usually comprising only 2–6 spikelets each on a short branch and subtended by an involucre 8–15 mm long (shorter than the spikelets). Spikelets narrow-lanceolate, 10–20 mm long; lower and upper glumes vestigial, represented by membranous scales, occasionally to 3 mm long, but usually much shorter, or sometimes absent; lower floret sterile, its lemma equal to the spikelet, 9–13-nerved, membranous, palea absent; upper floret bisexual, lemma equal to lower lemma, palea subequal to lemma; stamens briefly but prominently exserted at anthesis, the fine filaments 2–4 cm long. Flowers Jan.–Apr.