Tufted glabrous perennial, culms erect, to 150 cm high. Leaves glabrous; blade inrolled or flat, smooth on the lower surface, scabrous above, to 50 cm long and 4 mm wide; ligule firm, acute, 3–10 mm long. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle, 8–30 cm long. Spikelets 2-(rarely 3)-flowered, 3.5–6 mm long, shining; glumes lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, usually purplish; lemma oblong, 3–4.5 mm long, membranous, erose at apex, callus hairs c. 1 mm long; awn straight, inserted halfway down lemma or lower, shortly exceeding lemma apex, rarely about as long as lemma; rachilla bristle plumose, slightly shorter than upper lemma. Flowers Sep.–Feb.