HABIT	ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL, MORE OR LESS WEAKLY RHIZOMATOUS.
STEMS	ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL, MORE OR LESS WEAKLY RHIZOMATOUS.
LEAVES	USUALLY NEAR BASE OF CULM; SHEATHS GLABROUS, SHORTER THAN INTERNODES; LIGULE MEMBRANOUS, 0.1-0.3 MM LONG; BLADES 3-10 CM LONG, 2-4 MM WIDE, GLABROUS.
FLOWERS	INFLORESCENCES 1.5-7 CM LONG, USUALLY LESS THAN 5 MM IN DIAMETER, OFTEN TINGED PURPLE, PEDUNCLE SLENDER, 10-23 CM LONG, OFTEN CONSTITUTING MORE THAN; THE HEIGHT OF THE PLANT;
FRUITS	SPIKELETS PEDICELLATE, STRONGLY IMBRICATE AND CONCEALING THE RACHIS; FIRST GLUME OVATE, BOATSHAPED, 1.1-1.5 MM LONG, 5-NERVED, SECOND GLUME BOAT-SHAPED, 2.5-2.8 MM LONG.
SEEDS	CARYOPSIS BROWN, OVOID, SLIGHTLY COMPRESSED, 1 MM LONG.