HABIT	A PERENNIAL GRASS.
STEMS	CULMS ARE SHORT, ERECT AND ARISE FROM RHIZOMES. THE RHIZOMES ARE TOUGH, WHITE, COMMONLY 1 M LONG BUT CAN BE CONSIDERABLY MORE, EXTENSIVELY BRANCHED AND COVERED WITH PAPERY SCALE LEAVES AT THE NODES.
LEAVES	STIFF, LINEAR-LANCEOLATE, UP TO 120 CM LONG AND 4- 18 MM WIDE, WITH A PROMINENT WHITE MIDRIB, SCABRID MARGIN AND POINTED TIP. THE LIGULE IS AN INCONSPICUOUS MEMBRANE.
FLOWERS	INFLORESCENCE IS A WHITE, SPIKE-LIKE PANICLE, TERMINAL, FLUFFY, 5-20 CM LONG AND UP TO 2.5 CM IN DIAMETER. SPIKELETS ARE NUMEROUS, 3.5-5.0 MM LONG, EACH SURROUNDED BY A BASAL RING OF SILKY HAIRS 10 MM LONG.
FRUITS	GRAIN IS OBLONG, POINTED, BROWN AND 1-1.5 MM\ LONG.